Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-05
A sTEPMOTHER,s CRUELTY,
Driven Insane by Inbuman Treatment-
Story OF the Coal Regions.

An almost incredible story has developed al
Mt Carmel, Pa, by the police arresting Mrs.
hose Sheshinskie for combining her stepdaugh-
ter, Amelia, aged twenty-five years, in a cellar,
where she was treated in such a manner as to
drive her insane. and all on account of an in
heritance of real estate. which with Amelia out
of the way would fall to the woman and to
Amelias brothers, who are also said to be in
the conspiracy.
John Sheshinskie went to the coal regions
when Amelia was three years old. He was a
widower and had two sons, Anthony and John.
About ten years ago he married a widow with
one son, August. He bought large strip o
land in Mount Carmel. Five years agohe died.
Amelia 8 brothers and August married. They
all built houses on the land, Amelia and her
stepmother living with August The step
mother began to abuse her and also her
brothers. At first no one could trace the cause
of the abuse, but it finally leaked out that old
John Sheshinskie left good deal Of property,
and the stepmother, with her step sons, were
trying to get rid of Amelia to obtain it them
selves.
She was driven from the house and compelled
to pick coal from clum banks. Then she went
to live with Anthony, but was driven from the
house. She sought the protection of John.
Again misery overshadowed her. for John g
wife said that unless Amelia left she would. II
resulted in Amelia again being turned adrift,
and she returned to her cruel stepmother. The
families nearby knew that Amelia was ILL
treated, but they refused to interfere.
One day last summer Amelia disappeared and
the Americans were perplexed. They inquired
among the Poles, but learned nothing. Several
evenings later Amelia was seen by miners who
were returning from work. She was carrying
a bag of coal. When they walked toward her
she ran like deer. The miners followed her
home After placing the coal on the porch she
came out Of the house and walked to a small
window in the front of the cellar. Then she
laid down and q moment later was seen to
crawl through the window into the cellar The
miners went home and the following day every
American in the vicinity believed that Amelia
was a prisoner. At night means and screams
could be heard issuing from the cellar.
About two weeks ago man was passing the
Sheskinskie house when he noticed Mrs. Shes
kinskie struggling with Amelia The woman
forced the girl to an old porch and was seen to
raise an AK to strike her. The man informed
his friends what he had witnessed and it was
then decided that the girl should be rescued.
Officer Neiswender WAS told the story and Jas.
Nancy took out a warrant. Neiswender en-
tered the Sheskinskie house and demanded
Amelia. After removing heavy lock from
the cellar the officer entered.
The officer was compelled to strike match
before he could see. The cellar was nothing
more than common dug-Out. In the darkest
corner was a small dry goods box and crouched
behind it the girl She was not the Amelia of
former days. An old salt bag covered the
upper portion of her body and ragged calico
skirt wrapped about her legs was her only
protection. As the officer moved toward her
the demented girl showed her teeth and
growled like an animal.
Il want to take her out of this hole" said the
officer, whereupon the inhuman keeper pro-
tested vigorously. The woman grabbed Anne
lila, who clutched the box in the hope that she
would escape the expected beating. Finally
she was dragged upstairs and the officer was
given a chance to view the girl.
Her hair, which Rosa said had not been cut
for years, huns down her back. Her eyes were
sunken and her face mass of scars, burns and
bruises. Accompanied by the girl and woman
Officer Neiswender went to Squire Amas'
where a hearing took place. The evidence
brought out was sufficient to hold Rosa, who
was put under $4,000 bail. Amelia was COM
mitted to the poor house and DIR. Samuel made
an examination of her wounds.
Her back found to be mass of scars.
One thing which attracted the attention of the
inmates Of the poor house was a scar several
inches in length near the girls neck. When
asked about it she said that one day her step
mother heated the poker, and after ordering
her to lie down applied the red hot iron