, 1890-05-08
SHOCKING OUTRAGE,
A Minister in Poverty Flat
Charged With Abusing His
Helpless Child.
A Little Boy Fastened With a Dog
Chain All Day Under a
Broiling Sun.

Poverty Flats lay blazing in the
sun yesterday. The thermometer
registered all the way from so to 05
degrees, according to location, in
the lovely plateau ly'lg just below
the falls of the river Spokane, al
most in the heart OF the metropolis.
II was one of the hottest days re-.
corded in the history of the valley,
There, I'm that torrid temperature,
occurred yesterday, according to the
testimony of numerous witnesses,
one of the most shocking acts OF
cruelty that has ever disgraced the
city.
The first intlmatlon of the affair
received uptown came to the RE-
VIEW I'm the form of communica.
ton, ms follows:
Thought would drop you line
concerning the cruel treatment by Rev.
William Coulter, of Poverty Flats, to-
ward his b-ycar-old son-the child hav-
ing committed some childish act that
often dcd his father. Instead of punish
ing him rs u decent father should, he
chained him by the ankle, outside the
house, In the hot sun and left him from
o'clock In the afternoon until 5 O'Clock
IN the evening, without supper. The
ncighboring men, ON returning home
from work In the evening, informed the
father that unless he released the boy
forciblc measures would be adopted to
compel him to do so. such treatment
us this should be done away with.
a SUBSCRIBER
This was brought to the REVIEW
office by a. Moon, residing at No.
PIG Poverty Flats. In answer to
questions he stated that he was one
OF "the mob" as he termed the
organization of citizens who, mt S
O'Clock in the evening, visited the
Coulter place and compelled the in
human father to release the child.
Don't take my word for 1t, )" said
he, "unless satisfied that the state
ments In this letter are true. You
can find II hundred witnesses to the
outrage
Mr.. Moon proceeded TO give the
names of several who participated
In securing the boys release or wit
messed the cruel act. Among them
were l.. 4. Corey, William Light
foot, Thomas Fitzgerald and Joseph
Nelson, all hardworlllng men, VINO
live In cheap houses in that locality.
a few minutes after the departure
of Mr.. Moon another gentleman
came In and stated that hendish
act had been perpetratod In Poverty
Flats. He related substan tally the
same story as that outlined in the
letter presented by Mr.. Moon.
"I am the pioneer horsendish
gardener of Poverty Flats" he said,
"and am well known. don't
think anybody will dispute my
word. My name is l.. I. Corey"
Still desirOus of pushing the mat
ter to the bottom and ascertaining
all the facts, two representative Of
the REVIEW went down into that
part of the city known as
Poverty Flats. 1t is II conf
munity of working people, includ-
Ing representatives or nll ma
tionalities, II can be reached only
by descending II steep bluh, bya cir
cuitous trail. by daylight this Is
not difficult, hut after emerging
from amid the glare of electric
lights, through the shade of the pines
and firs, and encountering here aud
there A low-swung wire clothesline,
the conclusion II arrived at that II
more delightful excursion could be
planned.
On the first plateau the melodious
tones of u either were heard in u
neat little cottage. A rap at the
door was responded to by II voice,
with IA Scandinavian accent, "Come
i'm
The door was pushed open and II
group of men We're encountered
seated about the room In all sorts of
attitudes. The music had ceased,
and an expression of surprise was
uttered, on account of the late inter
ruptlon.
Inquiries were made as to the To-
cality of the residences OF the per.
sons sought, but no explanation was
offered by the news seekers.
Apparently pcrceiving that the
mission of the pilgrims was not ma
licioua, one Of the men came out
and led the way To the lower flat or
plateau, almost at the margin of tie
river.
Hcrc most of the people had re-
tired, but several people We're seen
who had heard of the cruel treat
ment of the preachers child, aud
gave additional directions rs to the
locality where Il occurred, on the
Hat above. The residence of Mr..
William Lightfoot was finally
located, and he was called out. lie
had not seen the boy In his painful
predicament, hut said he had often
heard the cries of the preachers
children, while undergoing the
ordeal of an unmerciful flogging.
at is the most abominable case
of cruelty / ever heard Off said
Mr.. Lightfoot, "and the man should
be severely punished for il. There
IL Coulter's house, near mine, on
the hillside We are often awakened
at night by the shrieks of those help
less children. They tlog them out
rageously."
The guide then led the newspaper
men to the house of Adam Belling-
ham, near that occupied by the
Coulter family. Mr.. Bellingham
stated that he Is one of the foremon
In the construction OF the VOL
verton block. The family were all
at supper, having worked very late
and been delayed by the exciting
events of the evening.
"That man Coulter" said Mr..
Bellinghanl, 'prcached last night
until after 10 O'Clock; then, after the
doxology was sung, they organized
some kind of special prayer service
and keptit up, ] can't say how long,
for every time ] awoke i heard the
disturbance still going on. This Is
n prcat nuisance, but we never