Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-18
A MOTHERS CRIME.
AN ALMOST INCREDIBLE STORY OF
CRUELTY FROM IRELAND.
The Daughter Of Lord Charged with
Causing the Death Of Her Little
Giri-ofher Foreign News.


fBy Angio-American cable TO the Dispasch.l
BELFAST, February IA dispatch from
Coleraine, in County Londonderry, forty
seven miles from here. says that Mrs. Mon
tague. daughter Of Lord Robert Mon
tague, was committed for trial this morn
ing on the charge Of causing the death OF
her daughter, Mary Helen Montague,
child only years Of age.
Only tho bare details of the affair are
known at present. as the greatest efforts
have been made to keep the matter secret
and TO SHIELD. as far as possible. the I'M
portant family involved. but the crime Is
of such q shocking nature that the ser
wants. neighhors, and others insisted that
Justice should be done, and there seems 10
be prospect that a lady of the Montague
family may meet death at the bangrnan's
bands.
CHILDISH TRANSPORTATION.
From the accounts of the affair that have
reached here it seems that the poor child
has been badly used by the goyerness. in
addition to being the object OF the hatred
Of its mother. Ia fact, the harsh action OF
the g0yerness eeerns to have led up to the
tragedy. The latter, IL seems. for some
childish escapade upon the part OF her
charge, locked the little girl up in
dark room as punishment aud then in.
formed the mother. Mrs. Montague, of
the chIld's offence and of the punishment
she had melted out TO her for 1t. The mo-
ther appears TO have become so enraged at
the little daughters conduct that she re-
solved to punish Der still more severely.
and going to the dark room in which the
child had been confined by the governess.
Mrs Montague tied her baby daugh-
tors arms behind her back with some
stout string. which cut deeply into the
child's tender limbs, and then. not Salts
fed with this severe treatment, she con-
neoted the end of this string about the
ctid's arms TO q ring ia the wall, hall
stringing her up and half fastening her to
the wall in order, apparently. 70 prevent
her from moving about while she was I'M
der punishment.
PLEADnsGs TOR MERCY.
The child cried piteously TO be released,
promising amid heart-rending sobs never
TO offend again. but the mothers heart was
steeled against her baby's prayers Tor
mercy, and she went away and locked the
door behind her, leaving poor little Mary
alone IN the dark room and strung 10 the
wall in position which must have caused
her infinite pain.
After the mother left the child in the
position mentioned the poor chlld's cries
grew fainter and then ceased entirely:
Those who noticed that the child had
ceased crying came to the conclusion that
she had become reconciled TO her lmpri-
sonment in the dark room aud that she
had concluded that the less noise she
made the sooner she would be placed at
liberty.
In any case, three hours passed before
anybody thought Of going to the dark
room in which the little girl was confined
in order to see if she wanted anything
THE LITTLE ONE DEAD.
At tho expiration of that time the door
of the dark room was visited, and when
several knocks at the door failed to obtain
reply from the child the door was
opened. and little Mary was seen hud-
died up under the ring III the wall. her
pretty curls covering her face. which
was hanging downward, the body being
upheld by the cruel string fastened around
her arms and secured TO the ring referred
TO. When the bright curls were brushed
away from the child's forehead II was seen
that her face was horribly discolored and
distorted, and n further examination
showed that poor little Mary was dead,
having been choked TO death.
The house was soon alarmed and medical
attendance was sent for. but all efforts 10
bring the child back 10 life proved fruit
less. The mother and governess were IN
despair. but the physician, servants, ana
neighbOrs who heard OF the affair were
furiously indignant ut the cruel mother
and insisted that justice should be done.
MRS. MONTAGUE ARRESTED.
The result was that the police were in
formed of the tragic death Of little
Mary, and soon after warrant for the
arrest of Mrs. Montague was issued.
When taken into custody Mrs. Mon
tapue sobbed bitterly and again and again
asserted that she had no intention OF
taking the chlld's life; that she was utter,
ly heart broken at what had occurred. and
that her sole object In fastening the chlId
to the wall was TO prevent her from kick
ing at the door of the room III which she
had been confined and 80 disturbing
everybody IN the house.
Mrs. MOntague's explanations, however,
did not satisfy the police. nor did they
salty the police magistrate before whom
her preliminary examination was con-
Quoted to-day, for, as already stated, IN
spite Of the efforts of her influential trends
and relations, and IN spite OF the pleas
of able counsel, she was formally COM
United tor trial. and IS likely TO have an
unpleasant time of it when brought face
to face with hard-heGded box of
iurvmen, who Will not allow sentI-
ment 10 deter them from 0yenging
the death of poor little Mary
Montague. 1t is not generally be-
lieved that Mrs. Montague had any inten-
ton OF taking her child's life, but the
opinion pre- walls that the child was acct
dentaly choked 10 death through beng
strung up to the wall in the manner al
ready described by the cruel mother.
lt is said that other instances OF cruelty
upon the part of Mrs. Montague 70 her
child will be disclosed at the trial, which
promises TO be one of the most interesting
and exciting which has occurred for many