The Portland daily press., 1894-10-25
WESTBROOK.
That Neglected Child Case Turns Out
Farce.

For After the Witnesses Had All Told
Their stories the Child Said Evervtnine
Was Pleasant and She Wished to Re-
main Where She Was.
For some weeks the east end of this city
has been stirred by frequent ranorts of rhe
abuse and neglect of vonne e,irl Ste1la
i Cressey by name, who has bee n making her
home Tor the past seven months with her
half sister, Mrs. John BRYANT of Main
street. At last the Community demanded
| that this matter should he 1ookad into nv
| the authorities, and petition was made to
the city council for hearing The hearing
was granted Thursday afternoon If last
week. At this hearing he council decided
that there was probable cause. and that
some provision should be made for the
child, but that the matter should properly
come peiore trial Judge. and the petition
ers were instructed to take their. grievances
! before Judge TolmaL of the Municinal
court. A hearing was given them yesterday
afternoon. Lawyer Lyons conducted the
| case on the part of Mr.. and Mrs. Bryans.
ana LIZ. y. II. Leighton on the part of the
petitioners. The witnesses for the petiti on
ers were calleu 10 the stand first. They
were all responsible parties. and evidently
hao the good OF the girl at heart. Mr.. Kit
n. blalsland. one OF the witnesses, testified
that the girl had been put out TO his home
as domestic Dy Mr. and Mrs. Bryant, that
she was improperly clad when she came
there ana That she told hear t-rending
stories OF abuses that she had suffered at
the hands of Mr.. and Mrs. Eryant.
nm.
petitioners, stated that the young girl had
been employed by her and that she had told
her similar stories. Several more witnesses
were called to the stand and their testimony
vas all along the same line. No witness for
NE petitioners had any personal knowledge
t.at the young girl was the subject of
abusive treatment. 1t was simply hearsay.
am her own stories. Mrs. Dolly, however,
oiohear Mr.. Bryant use strong language
toMrd the girl one evening,
LIZ witnesses all testified that the young
girl ad stated to them that she had been |
struc by Mrs. Bryant and had been i'm |
propely clothed, overworked and poorly |
ted- II. Blaisland testified that the young |
girl caae to his house one evening in Au- |
gust afer she had left there as domestic.
complaining that she had stood ill treat
ment 1rn Mrs. Bryant as long as she could.
ana ina she was not going back their
again. Sc did not return until some time
the next ". according to her own state
ment she dyed out of doors in the mill
yards thatvening, but that girl 10 years
OF age won. do this seemed impr obable toll
all. III
The witness for the defence were then
called. Mrs.sraynt was first to take the
stana, ana 8 denied all sta tements made
by the prevlts witnesses She testified
that hef husDad was earning small wages,
and that it wasmpossbIe for them to do az
they wished byte girl. She further sta+ad
!, that they ha incurred large lexnensa
Through sicknesa thu family and that
ahey were obliseto let Stella assist them.
sbut that they we1lntending to send her to
q chool as soon as ecumstances should per-
~ nit. Mr.. Bryant tered similar testi. c
lony and Mrs. ClaILeighton, neighbor. c
j, Istified that she wasfrequent caller at t
is home and that SD was satisfied that 1
It girl was not harsh treated. d
d But the surprise Is given when the 8
ing girl in questioiStella Cressey. took d
: stand and testif that her relation 0
Il Vi the Bryants wapleasant. and that b
. sIdesired to go bacEo them TO live. She t.
wquestioned abouer relations with a Il
n btder at Nj Dollys, The
eence rested here and after
arguments of 1ser Lyons and DR.. q.
# Heighton. the heag was adjourned by
thddge and the gfpfaced in the keepine
of and Mrs. Bry until the case shall
e be lied up again.
). . Mand Mrs. s. Darren of Boston, are