Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-07-13
A STORY OF CRUELTY
\ Boy Tells How Cruelty His
Father Used Him.
A BAD LITTLE BOY !!
Hardened i'm Sin and GUS
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Hardened i'm Sin and Gus
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The sympathy Of our people is
seldom more thoroughly aroused than
it was on Saturday evening at the
appearance of two little children, n
boy and girl, aged respectively ten
and eight years, who related story of
extreme cruelty. The boys face was
black and blue from the effects of
whipping which his father, Jim Lewis,
had given him the day before The
children said their father cruelty beat
them ut any time upon the least pro.
vocation, that the morning before, he
had told the little boy to get his pants
which had been removed by his mother
from where they were left the night
before, and because he could not find
them AT once, the father became angry,
knocked the little fellow down, kicked
and stamped him for some time, and
then picked up stick OF wood and
beat him in the face which caused the
bruises which lie exhibited. He also
beat the little girl severely. The
children tried to get away, but could
not until night, when they made their
escape, and wandered along the county
road all night and the following day
without anything TO eat until they
reached here, distance OF twelve
miles from their home. a gentleman
here learned from the children their
names and from Others their relation
ship to Mr.. X c. Lewis, and after
persuasion and assurance that they
would be properly cared for, took them
10 Mr.. Lewis house. The children
objected to going for fear of being
returned to their home They said
papa will kill us if he gets up with
us 1t was this fear that had to be
overcome before they consented to go to
their cousins home. They were
washed, fed and cared for by Mrs.
Lewis until Sunday afternoon when
their mother also arrived ON foot in
search of her children. She had not
slept or touched food since she discov-
cred the absence of the little ones, and
had searched the forests and roads for
two days. 1t was not until Tuesday,
when the children had been assured
that officers had gone for the cruel
father, that they would consent to
return home with their mother. They
started TO walk back home, but were
met on the way by Capt. Charles 5.
Capper, who, on Tuesday was sworn
in as a deputy constable and went to
Lewis house arrested him and brought
him to Snow Hill Jail, the wife and
children returning with him. On
"Wednesday he Was arraigned before
Squire Carmean. The hearing devel-
oped the fact that the innocent. looking
little bay is not perfect angel and
while his father is 70 saint, for he did
hit the boy with broom stick.
Testimony was produced showing that
the little fellow is incorrigible, swears
like trooper and steals anything he
can get his hands on. On his way to
town he got in the garden of Mr.. J.
+. Dickerson at Colbourns, and ma
liciously pulled up corn and cabbage
and when gentleman gave them a
ride in his dearborn he rode along
quietly for awhile when he ripped out
great big oath and jumped out of
the dearborn, saying come on, Sis"
this aint the road for us, we want TO
go to Parsonsburg." 1t appears that
the little girl is good child and was
afraid of the boy, he making her ac.
company him in his wanderings.
States Attorney Jones ordered the
fathers release from custody, and the
boy was sentenced to the House Of
Correction for three months.
This action was taken principally
upon the testimony of Mr.. X. &. Lewis,
who SAYS after he took the children to
his house on Saturday and had them
washed and cared for. the boy exhibit
ted traits which it would seem impossi-
BILE in one so Young. He cursed and
yelled and when put to bed beat his
little sister. He carried on so high
that Mr. Lewis on Monday threatened
to give him good licking, as a last
resort to make him behave, he finally
told alI,-mother and children, that
they would have TO 90 back home.
The general belief is that the man
really is cruel to his family, and that
the woman was afraid to testify against
him, but those who administer the law
had no evidence to that effect except
the story told by the boy, and with his
uncle and mother and father testifying
that he was thoroughly depraved and
unreliable, no other course than the one
decided upon could be taken.