The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-10-15
A WOMAN'S CRUELTY.
Her Little Niece Starved,
Beaten. and Shut Up In
a Closet.
RESCUED BY NEIGHBoRS.
Recorder MeDonough, of Hoboken,
sternly Rebukes Mrs. Crosby's
Brother in Court.

A delicate seven-year-old girl, with
pinched features and blue eyes. that had
pleading look, was in Recorder Nc
Donough's court. in Hoboken, this morn
ing. She was about to be taken from the
custody of her aunt, who. if the stories
told by the neighbors are true, is nothing
less than human fiend. ana to be sent
to the Aims House. On last Saturday
Mrs. Louisa Milkhardt, Dora Kruger
and Gertrude Lenhardt, German women,
with kindly hearts, called at the Re-
corder's court. They said that they were
tenants living in the house No. 65 Madi-
the purpose of saving child from a
lingering dearh. They said that IN the
house with them lived the Crosby family,
consisting of Mr.. and Mrs Crosby six
children and Minnie, a seven year-old
niece.
They then told story of the manner In
which the niece was treated by Mrs.
Crosby that the Recorder was loath to be-
lleve, but which he later found to be true.
They said that in summer or winter the
little girl went about barefooted and
sometimes half naked. Mrs. Crosby had
beaten the little one till its little body
was black and blue and she came scream
ing into their rooms. When Mrs. Crosby
would get tired of beating her she was in
the habit of locking her in a closet
beneath the sink in the hallway and
keeping her there in a crouched position
all night Then in the morning she
would hold the child's head beneath the
water spout until she would yell with
pain. Several times. the neighbors
stated. they provided the little one with
shoes and stockings which her inhuman
aunt contiscated and gave to her own
children They said that they had often
fed her when she was actually on the
point of starving.
The Recorder, scarcely believing that
such srate of things existed. but not
wanting to discredit the STRAIGHTFORWARD
story which had been told, Immediately
sent Policeman Aldoretta to inquire
among other neighbors. The policeman
reported back that the story told by the
woman was absolutely true. The Re
corder then sent for Mrs. Crosby. A gen
tleman, who said his name was Crosby
and that he was brother of Mrs Crosby,
answered the summons. Then was
learned some OF the history of the child
1t appears that her father was drowned
when she was yet an infant, and that
her mother was driven crazy by
her husbands sudden end, and
was taken to- an insane asylum, where
she died. The little one was then taken
in charge by Mrs Crosby, who Is sister
to the father Of the child. Mr., Crosby
told the Judge thai the besa thing tiisss
could be done was to send the child TO the
aims house.
This morning there was a scene IN
Court which is seldom witnessed After
the child had been delivered over to the
custody OF the Poormaster and the neces-
sary papers signed, the aunt with croco-
die tears in her eyes bid the little one
good bye. Then the kind-heartad Ger
man women bid the child good bye.
Good bye. little one.n one Of them
sobbed, II hope you are going to place
where you will not starve TO death.
Here, don't want any of this" said
Mr.. Crosby's brother
'aThat's all right sternly said the
Judge. these women are right. But for
them this child might have suffered q
terrible death. They can have all the
time they want to bid the little one fare
welln
The child was then taken into the Re-
corder's room, where her pitiful look cre-
ated great deal of sympathy. She will
be taken to the Aims House today.