Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-13
LITTLE GIRL IN JAIL.
BRIGHT PiYe-Year-0ld Tot Taken from
HeSrO'S House.
MARKS OF CRUEL WHIPPING.
The ChiId's BACK BADLY Scared, m
II by Being Benten-Thc woman
ACCOMPLISHMENTS of Convict
other County News.
other County News.

A bright, golden-haired girl, ABOUT o
years old, whose sparkling blue eyes and
winning prattle attract the attention OF
all who see her, Is now an inmate or the
county jail, having been rescued from the
home OF a negro woman who. 1t is al
legged. cruelty beat II.
The case is a pitiful one, and has AVA
ned much sympathy for the little one,
who gives her name as Mary Catherine
Whitney.
A few days ago Mr.. Horace A. Haw-
kIns reported TO Justice James I. Lewis
that n little white girl was being UNI
lawfully harbored by a negro woman
named Leroy at her house, No. 1914 WASH
ington street and that she was being
maltreated. Yesterday morning the magis-
trate and Deputy-Sherin Lew fusseli
drove out to the home OF the negroes and
took the little girl away.
LOCKED IN THE ROOM.
The Leroy woman was away at the
time, the house was locked, ana the OIL
Ger had to effect an entrance through the
window. Mr.. Russell found the little girl
in a dark dirty room. crouched in cor
ner. and when he entered the apartment
she screamed TO him 10 go out, saying
that II Nanny" caught him in there
she would beat her.
The little one was clad In only one gar
ment which was tattered and filthy. and
she appeared to be half starved. She was
wrapped In blanket by the tender-heirt-
ed taller and carried to the county prison,
where edlDles Of all kinds, both sweet and
substantial, were placed in front Of her.
She ate ravenously, and seemed unable
to satisfy her craving for some time.
A Dispatch reporter who called at the
jail shortly after Mary's arrival was
greeted with a bright smile by the little
one. who soon made friends with him,
and as best she could gave a history OF
herself She showed her back. which
was terribly lacerated. and when asked
how the cuts and scars came there. said
Nanny beat her with switches. When
asked why this was done she said II
was because she had gone outside the
house.
THE WOMAN ARRESTED.
Her foster-mother was arrested late
yesterday afternoon and taken TO the
county jail, where she was locked up.
She denied positively ever having beaten
the child, and said that the scars were
the result of scrofulous sores. She said
the child was left at her door some five
years ago, when it was but few days
old. and since that time she had cared
for 1t as a mother would.
The little girl was taken into the cell
Of Parker, the gold-brick man, for short
while Yesterday and his sympathies being
enlisted in her behalf, he gave Deputy
Sheriff Voegler sufficient money with
which to purchase clothing for the child
This was done a once. and she was soon
dressed in a neat calico frock, and had on
a pair of shoes and stockings.
The Leroy woman will be examined to-
day by Magistrate Lewis. Several gentle
men are anxious to adopt the child.
Escape from the Chain-Cang.
Joe Scott (colored), an inmate of the
county Jail, who was sent up last Decem-
Der In default of security for six months
for assault, escaped from the chain-gang
near the National Cemetery yesterday,
and search for him has thus far been in
vain. The gang was in charge or Mr..
Baker who takes them each day from
the Jail, and returns them at night. Scott
had ball and chain attached to his ankle,
and was working with the rest of the
men. using a grubbing-hoe. Mr.. Baker
saw him 20 behind a fence. but thought
nothing of 1t. He did not return in
reasonable length of time, and the guard
investigated. He was rewarded by find
ing the ball and chain and hoe, the latter
having served as a means for breaking
the former.
The matter was promptly reported at
the courthouse, and Constable Samuels
was detailed TO look for the escaped man.
He had only two months longer to serve.
Mosby Melton. the Henrico farmer
charged with numbering an unborn negro
baby, was bailed yesterday in the sum
of $500. Mr.. and Mrs. Mathew Melton
becoming his sureties.
Other County News.
Judge Wexford will ressntence Philip
Norman Nicholas to-day. He was to have
done so yesterday afternoon. and had ar
ranged to go to the courthouse at
o'clock, but as Mr. II. NJ. Smith, Jr., OF
counsel for the convicted man, would be
unable on account of previous engage
ment to be present at the time the matter
was postponed.
The County Committee will meet to-day
at noon TO consider the contests of Messrs.
Anderson, Smith, and Taylor, who claim
that they were fraudulently defeated at
the last primary. Mr.. Beverdge. counsel
for Mr.. Anderson, states that an examina
ton OF the books Of Bakers and Smither's
precincts show that no fraud has been
perpetrated there of which the officers OF
election could have been cognizant.