The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-28
PITILESS PARENTS.
CHILDREN MALTREATED BY CRUEL
MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

Some Horrible Instruments of Torture.
Cases of "a Startling Nature brought to
Light by the Pennsylvania society for
the Protection of Children.
Il hardly seems possible that a man
with the figure of an athlete and the
strength Of u Samson would deliberately
strike Il child Of six years full in the face
with all the force Of his brawny fist, and,
as if TO make it further deplorable, the
poor, defenscless little creature, his own
offspring. But such brutes exist, and
this case is considered "a mild one in the
annals Of pitilcss deeds that come under
the notice of the Pennsylvania Society
for tho Protection of Children from
Cruelty.
At the sOcicty's new home Mr.. Crew,
the enthusiastic secretary and prime
move in all the good work done, in Il
conversation Yesterday unfolded expert
enccs such as would appear to belong to
the times when torture was a recognized
mode of punishment for old and young.
Some Of the cases would put to blush
even the most cruel practices of those
oldcn days, and yet they are occurring
daily here in Philadelphia, and the
victims one and all are children. To
the parents who regard the treasures in
their homes Is the most priceless boon
that heaven ever bestowed, and whose
every thought is for the care and COM
fort oil their little ones, this society pecu-
liarly appeals.
How II mother, heart will bleed if
through accident Or disease u little son
OF daughter must endure the pangs of
suffering, and if punishment must be in
flictcd it falls more heavily OH tho
parents than OF the little offenders. Yet
there are mothers, and fathers, too, who
somehow seem 10 have been given the
children, but the love that comes with
the first weak cry has never found "a
place in their hearts. TO them they are
II burden, u constant source of annoy
ance, and only tit to slave and toll. and
rs their reward receive cuffs and kicks,
scars and bruises.
4 CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
In their new building the society has
secured a long felt want. Supplied with
every convenience and many comforts it
lnnst appCar II v"ritable haven of refuge
to the little waits that are rescued from
the streets o: ont of the clutches of the
inhuinan monsters they call father and
mother.
In n room set apart for the purpose is
Il collection Of straps, whips, b~ludgconS,
knives AZ" chains. an assortment worthy
Of :. chamber of horrors. yet each one
has been taken from the hands of some
!iciid - human form. and bears IA history
hat seems almost improbable in this
cit" Of homes. \ heavy chain. thirty
inches Ion and weighing from four to
six Druuha. with links strong enough to
secure aH!" wild beast, was taken from
arOIn.! t.r neck of II frail little boy,
whu:c ci.s" had been reported 10 the
society ~ outsiders. who heard the
child cries at the tOrtur" inflicted.
iiis little sister. frightened at the ter
rible punishment, ATTEMPTED! to escape
by crawling under the table The in
human father ceased from beating the
boy and turned his attention to the little
girl. He dragged her ont by the urn.
then holding her by the ankles he
thumpei her head up and down on the
floor until the child became unconscious.
When the officers Of the society arrived
at the hous" it was discovered that the
child's wrists and ankles were broken
and she had to be at once removed to
the hospital.
AN INiIJMAN MOTHER.
Another case III which IA oma and
Il mother figures Is one of the most
hearilcss instances on record. \ long,
cruel knife ELECTED the history, and for
cool, hard hearted Indifference i, has no
equal. y woina with her three chill
dren, living III on" of the wOrs sections
down town, rcvrlcd in all sorts Of vice
and wickcdness and regarded her little
ones as obstacles standing in her way.
or II very cycitablc and ungovcrnahle
disposition at all times, she was. whc!I
under the influence of drink. II veritablr
fury, and had frequently beaten them
wit, heavy clubs, Dungeons of wood
with prutrudinS nails, and. in fact, any
thing she could lay her hands ON, until
their bodies and faces were in the most
fearful condition.
Not content with this. she turned
them out i'll the streets one bitter win
ter's day insuiiicicntly clad, and too ter
ror stricken 10 attempt to return. Neigh
bors saw them and warned her that
unless she speedily avr them shelter
complaint would BE- made against her.
Owing To this threat She took them In.
but only to vent r"dUublcd fury on the
already half dead children. That night
one little chap, worn ont with the trials
Of his lot and exhausted 10y lack Of food
and i'll treatment, fell into II sleep only
to he rudrly awakened 10y heavy blows
because he brcath"d too loud, The final
act which brought her before the magis-
irate WAS that of stabblnG her little girl
because She asked for Il piece of sugar.
On being brought up tur examination
she expressed NO regret for what she
had done, but said she hoped the child
xI.,,,ll IL. a.. ., ,,,,,,1l ,,1, tab, tt,a.,.