Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-16

CHARGED WITH MURDER-'-Aaron
and Florence Jackson, colored, were
arrested yesterday morning on the
charge of causing the death of their
nineteen-months-old son Eddie. The
family reside in shanty in the north
eastern part of the city. The circum-
stances of the child's death are cruel
and revolving. For some timeits health
had been waning, and oflate symptoms
of pneumonia became well-marked.
On Saturday night the child's father
administered a severe beating to it,
using a thick leather strap with a
buckle attached as an instrument OF
torture. Harry, twelve'year-old son,
gave some damaging testimony against
his father, alleging that the castigatlon
was administered because the sick
child wouldn't walk, and that after it
was dead his mother burned the strap
The child's body, front and back, bore
evidences Of the cruelty to which it had
been subjected. After the arrest OF
Jackson and his wife DR.. Purvis, the
coroner. was summoned, and he order
ed the body to be taken to Undertaken
Demaine's establishment, where the
following coroner's jury was summon
ed at S O'Clock last night .. j. w. Sum-
mers, Frank Evans, DR.. Julius Dienelt,
Louis Brill, Edgar Warfeld, jr., and
William Davis. DIR. Smith, with
DIR. Purvis, made the post-mor-
TEN examination, aud stated that
the child had SYMPTOMS of pneumonia,
and that he thought it was bad treat
ment that caused its death. He did
not think that the punishment the child
received was the direct cause of death.
1t was the neglect of the father in not
securing physician to attend the child
that caused its death. The jury return
ed tbs following verdict: 1--WE, the
jury, find that Eddie Jackson came to
his death by brutal treatment and gross
neglect on the part of the father, it ap-
pearipg to the jury that he had beaten
the child and otherwise ill-used it while
it was suffering from an attack of pneu-
monia, and also failed in furnishing
proper medical aid" Jackson and his
wife were brought before the Mayor
this morning. Their son Harry was
put upon the stand and he stated SUBJ
stantially as before the coroDer's jury
that his father bad previously whipped
his sick brother and that on Saturday
night he kept it up to within short
time of his death. The little witness
cried piteously and imploringly asked
the Mayor, "Where is my little
brother" The child also stated that
his father bad threatened to beat
him if he told on him. Another boy,
younger than Harry, was next examin-
ed. He soon proved to the court that
his mother had been rehearsing him his
part, and persisted in looking out OF
the window or to the floor when ques-
toned. The mother in her testimony
said the father had strapped the child
some time ago, and that the bruises on
the body were caused by fall. Jack
son testified to the same effect. The
latter was sent on to the grand jury.
Jackson is low-set negro who came
here from Maryland some years ago.
and it is said killed man in that
State. Since he came here he has been
several times in the clutches of the po-
lice. A few months ago he was sent to
the chain gang for robbing Mr.. Lees
store, on the corner of Queen and Pitt
streets. On that occasion it was evi
dent that he had sent his son Harry
into the store after plumber, some OF
which was found in his house.