Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-07

switches and the stick used ir the boys mouth. Mr. Devine also got some switches. The boys said they were the identical switches and stick. The boys told me they saw Mrs. Howe throw the baby over the banister5. l separated the boys and each told me almost the same about her throwing the baby over the banisters. Saw the child at the post mortem 1 saw how it was bruised up. I never had heard of any threats of Mrs. Howe going to kill the child MT Howe expressed the opinion to me that she (Mrs. Howe) was guilty.
 Witness said MT. Howe would not do anything toward defending Mrs. Howe, but would employ a lawyer to prosecute her if necessary. She has written two letters to him, but he refused to have anything to do with her.
 Father of the Dead Child.
 The last witness called was Mr. M. $. Howe, the father of the dead child. He made the following statement most of which was given without interrogatorieS:
 My name is M s. Howe. 1 live in Jonesville. Am employed at the flaw kins Lumber company. Was married to my present wife the 21st of July, 1894. She gave her name as Laura Williams, the name under which I married her. She never said to me that she was wid- ow. I understood her former husband was a railroad man and she was divorced from him. The first knew of her being a widow was when l saw 1t in the papers. Took her to Davis infirmary about ten weeks ago. Knew nothing of her cruelty to the children up to the night after the chld's death when MT Hughes told me. He told me that about the time my oldest boy went off he thought the negro wom- an was abusing the. children. l asked my wife if the negro woman was abusing the children and she said not. I told her if the negro woman was abusing the chill 1 ya.ntt tT oII Iaxrr 1,afN -ta it. Times were hard and I couldn't af- ford to hire another negro then. MT. Carter told me at the time my oldest boy went off the negro woman had been treating the children badly and he ad vsed me to discharge her. The children never told me anything about their treat ment. MT Carter told me about the boys rocking their older brother and l tried to find him to get at the straight of it. Hadn't whipped my boy for some time before he went off and told her (his wife) that he never intended whipping him again. He was about the average of boys She (his wife) would tell me of his doing badly, such as stealing a nickel once in a while or something else. I was a little suspicious. Don't remember the little boys telling me anything about her (his wife's) cruelty to the baby or themselves. They did say she punished them, but nothing as to the crcum- stances. Don't remember if the boys told me about her throwing the baby over the baniSterS.
 Believes Her Guilty
 My opinion is that she (his wife) is just as guilty as there was ever any body who committed a crime in the world If she is not punished there is no more use for law. She is no more now to me than person in South Africa. I will have nothing more to do with her. She sent me a letter-at least I supposed it was letter-in an envelope but I sent it back. It was either Tuesday or Wednesday. B. M. Allen telephoned for me- but I refused to answer him, as I thought it was about her. and it seemed so absurd to me to think anyone would imagine I would aid her when I was prosecuting her. She was the sweetest woman I ever saw when I was with her. We had a few family jars. such as are natural. I knew her when I saw her about one year before we were mar ried. She was at my house about month or two before I married her.
 Wanted to Reform Her.
 Never saw her in house of prostitu- tion. knew her character when I took her to my house, and when I made up my mind to marry her I thought could reform her. and as I needed some one to take care of my children I married her. l had the negro woman who nursed my WHO DeIOEe SIle Qleu SldylUS at fUy nOuSe, but hearing she whipped the children I got rid of her. Salle Bell was at my house. but told me she could not stay at the house and see the children abused. This was about the time she (his wife) went to the infirmary. I got home the morning I heard the child was dead about-ene hour after I left to go to work. I got my information by pecemeal. Was a little late going to work; left about 6:30. I generally go about a quarter after o'clock I spoke to the baby that morning and passed some words with him. I asked him, "How do you feel this morning ?" He said, 1T feel very well, and want my breakfast" I called the negress and told her to give him something to eat. I saw the bruises after the child was at the undertaker's establishment. Tried to get my wife to go to bed the night the child was dead. She wouldn't, and I began to be suspicious, but couldn't as yet get my mind made up to believe her guilty. When she went in the other room and thought she was asleep I raised the lid of the coffin, and that time I heard her (his wife) stir in the other room, and I again became suspicious l put the lid back. I went over to Davis a little after noon the day the child died. I told her (his wife) we are going to sift this thing to the bottom.
 Somebody Has Got to Pay
 
 said anything about an inquest. Seemed restless and walked about a great deal Did not tell me she would kill the biggest boy if I did not send him off. She told me Johnny got his eye hurt in the grape vines Johnny never said a word. I saw Dr. Davis and told him the babylwas dead I told Dr. John Davis I sup posed that I would have to see pr. Elias Davis. He sent Dr. Elias in. I told Dr. Elias the little fellow was dead; that he just fell over dead. As a matter of fact, did not want her (his wife) to suspicion that I suspected her before I knew she was guilty. Can't say I saw much differ ence in the children sinceamy second marriage than before Was at home but very little. Tried to do by my children and her (his wife) as a Ntshould. About a week ago last Sunday when l came home and ate dinner I took my little boy Tommy and laid him in the bed and sat on the, foot of the bed. She (his wife) got into fuss with some one. Little Tommy said, Hush your mouth.' She il1npad al him like a tiuor I oanOhf