The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-04-16
PITILESS PARENTS.
CHILDREN MALTREATED BY CRUEL
MOTHERS AND FATHERS.


Some Horrible instruments OF Torture.
Cases OF . Startling Nature Brought to
Light by the Pennsylvania Society for
the Protection Of Children.
It hardly seems possible that a man
with the figure of an athlete and the
strength of Samson would deliberately
strike 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, defenseless little creature, his own
offspring. But such brutes exist, and
this case is considered a mild one in the
annals of pitiless deeds that come under
the notice of the Pennsylvania Society
for the Protection of Children from
Cruelty.
At the society's new home Mr.. Crew,
the enthusiastic secretary and prime
mover in all the good work done, in a
conversation yesterday unfolded expert
ences such as would appear to belong to
the times when torture was recognized
mode of punishment for old and young.
Some of the cases would put to blush
even the most cruel practices of those
olden 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 as the most priceless boon
that heaven ever bestowed, and whose
every thought is for the care and COM
fort of their little ones, this society pecu-
liarly appeals.
How q mothers heart will bleed if
through accident or disease a little son
or daughter must endure the pangs of
suffering, and if punishment must be in
hicted it falls more heavily on the
parents than on the little offenders. Ye.
there IRE mothers, and fathers, too, who
somehow seem to 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
a burden, constant source of annoy
ance, and only fit to slave and toll, and
as their reward receive cuffs and kicks.
scars and bruises.
A CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
In their new building the society has
secured long felt want. Supplied with
every convenience and many comforts it
must appear veritable haven of refuge
to the little waits that are rescued from
the streets or out of the clutches of the
inhuman monsters they call father and
mother.
In room set apart for the purpose is
a collection of straps, whips, bludgeons,
knives and chains, an assortment worthy
of chamber of horrors, yet each one
has been taken from the hands of some
fend in human form, and bears history
that seems almost improbable in this
city of homes. A heavy chain, thirty
inches long and weighing from four to
six pounds, with links strong enough to
secure some wild beast, was taken from
around the neck of frail little boy,
whose case had been reported to the
society by outsiders, who heard the
child's cries at the torture inflicted.
His 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 out by the arm,
then holding her by the ankles he
thumped her head up and down on the
floor until the child became unconscious.
When the officers of the society arrived
at the house it was discovered that the
child's wrists and ankles were broken
and she had to be at once removed to
the hospital.
AN INHUMAN MOTHER.
Another case in which a woman and
a mother figures is one of the most
heartless instances on record. A long,
cruel knife elected the history, and for
cool, hard hearted Indifference it has no
equal. A woman with her three chill
dren, living in one of the worst sections
down town, reveled in all sorts of vice
and wickedness and regarded her little
ones as obstacles standing in her way.
OF a very excitable and ungovernable
disposition at all times, she was, when
under the influence of drink, a veritable
fury, and had frequently beaten them
with heavy clubs, bludgeons of wood
with protruding 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 in the streets one bitter win
ter's day insuficiently clad, and too ter
ror stricken to attempt to return. Neigh
bnrs saw them and warned her that
unless she speedily gave them shelter
complaint would be made against her.
Owing to this threat she took them in,
but only to vent redoubled fury on the
already half dead children. That night
one little chap, worn out with the trials
of his lot and exhausted by lack Of food
and i'll treatment, fell into sleep only
to be rudely awakened by heavy blows
because he breathed too loud. The final
act which brought her before the magis-
trate was that Of stabbing her little girl
because she asked for piece of sugar.
On being brought up for examination
she expressed no regret for what she