The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-19
The Clayton Inquest
Resumed Yester-
day.
Hrs. Clayton ON the stand
'"o says Daisy Refused TO Rat and
Would Not Take Medicine
Other News.

| W." w uhu htdTu DER tell IL, COulO
doubt that she did, then It il more than
probable that the child preferred and
sought death on account OF hatred OF its
father. Her testimony IN many instances
was rather favorable TO her husband,
though she told unreservedly OF cruelty
to the child and herself. Her testimony
at the inquest would certainly brand
clayton az an unnatural husband and
father but would tend TO relieve him from
the charge OF a capital crime.
In substance, Mrs. Clay ton testified ar
follows: NV full name is Nelva Denoyer
Clayton; married John Ward Clayton
two years ago, January 20. Daisy was
bis child but not mine. She was sick a
week before February /, and from then
to her death no physician was called at
Mr.. Clayton said it would be OF no use
az Daisy would not take the medicine
prescribed.
The body wounds Mrs. Clayton said
she felt certain wereiDfiicted with a strap.
Clayton also used a ruler and hair brush
to whip the child with, but the witness
never saw him use the hose stuffed with
shot found afterward. Clayton used to
drink good deal and would work him
self into fury OF rage over nothing and
at times was dangerous. Up to Febru-
airy i, witness told no one OF the occurr-
ence in her house. She went out little,
knew no one and was afraid OF her hus-
band.
During the time the family resided in
Duluth, Ashland. Calumet and Hough-
ton, there was trouble in getting the
child To eat and the Iather W hipped her To
make her eat. At one time be had wit
ness hold the child and then he held her
nose and then compelled her to swallow.
While they were at the Hotel Pfeiffer
Daisy refused to leave the room to go to
the dining room and when compelled To
go down would not eat. During thetwo
wears witness knew thecbild she displayed
peculiar appetite, eating largely at
times and at others refusing to do so
and this would drive the father into a
fury OF rage. A doctor prescribed for the
child for stomach trouble, but the good
done was temporary.
Things went on this way until about
the LIST of February, when the child
found out that Ms. Clayton was intend
ing to separate from her husband. Mrs.
Clayton testified that she knew the chile
wanted to go with her but realized that
she could not and that from then on tn,
child seemed to wish to die. This thu
witness realized more since than she die
at the time, These actions Of the chile
Infatuated the father and the little CIR
was whipped by him. Daisy, in the .opin
ion OF Mrs. Clayton was not afraid OF hei
father, but took delight in crossing hin
but if she had been more tractable, wit
ness thought she would not have beer
whipped.
Regarding the wounds on the neck, Mrs
Clay ton said Mr.. Clay ton explained then
by saying Daisy had made them herse,
trying to refuse food he was trying T.
give her. On the night before she die
she seemed more willing to eat. One O
the jurors asked how it was that Daisy
took raw ham bone to bed with her, Il
she refused things to eat. The witness
simply said there was better il she had
wished for it. Mrs. Clayton said she had
spoken to persons In the restaurant al
different times about the treatment
ID ,isv received. saying what a shame II
was, but they saw the same things as shc
did and she was afraid to talk outside.
Clayton abused his wife. not with act
ual blows, for she managed to ayoid
them, but by deprivation. Twice, sh'
said, he threatened to kill her and wa
only prevented from doing 40 by the iea
of being found out. Clayt gave the chile
a great deal OF brandy aud anti-cami,
and declared III she will only do what
say can get her we'll" At Duluth Daisy
would play by herself, but when witt
other children was quarrelsome. Clay
ton never refused to allow other children
to come and rIsy with her.
Mrs. Clayton did not zee Daisy drinl
the extracts which her father says AIT
took, but, coming back from school lev
days previous to the little ones death
she found the extract bottles empty Oh
the floor which she knew had been full OF
the shelf. Daisy said she had thrown
the contents out and played with tb'
bottles.
Taking Mrs. Clayton's testimony al
the truth, it is apparent that the child
no doubt moulded by the treatment o
it's father from the years OF It's infancy NJ
had grown to hate him; that, 30 hating
him. she did her best to arouse his anger
and In this easily succeeded. Under any
way the circumstances are looked at, th'
man IL morally guilty. II not legally so
for the unhappy life the child lived anC
the death il finally preferred.
Mrs. Clayton il Of most excellent lam
NV and married her husband against tn
wishes of her relatives, although when at
had finally made up her mind 40 to dc
they did everything thew could for he
Through the two years Of their marie q
bfe the husband has been a curious mi;
turc Of extreme kindness and extreme III
treatment. During the former phases %