Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-01-02
THE INQUEST.
Peculiar Evidence Brought Out in the
Pierce Child Case.

Pierce Child Case.
The inquest in the case of the sudden
death of the Pierce infant, which occurred
Friday night just before midnight, at the
home of Mrs. Pierce, at the corner of
Spruce and Fremont streets was held
on Monday. The inquest was brought
about by the fact that this is the second
time child has been born and suddenly
died at the same house. The inquest was
held at No. 403 South Pine street.
The inquest was conducted by Coroner
Sites. The jury was John H. Dare, for
man, Frank Eggman, John G. Sheldon,
DR.. Putnam. A. NJ. Rook and f. D. G.
Evans.
The first few witnesses were white, and
the evidence showed that the house was
disreputable, the family being Mrs.
Pierce, and two daughters, neither of
whom are married, and both have been
mothers. These first witnesses called
showed that there had been another child
born there which had suddenly died.
The first important witness was John
Wesley. He lives in the other half of the
house, and Friday night shortly after
eleven o'clock, he heard commotion in
the Pierce house, ,and a few moments later
heard a Cry of what he considered very
small infant, The first cry was vigorous
and then died away, and after awhile
all was still and quiet. The Pierce family
are colored, but their associations were
all white.
1nxr q INrNf of f6n
proceeding witness, said he was not at
home at the time of the child was born,
but knew the house was disreputable.
The mother of the child is Gertrude and
she is about l6 years old.
Mrs. Christina Wesley, wife of George,
said her daughter called her attention to
the noise in the other house, and she dis
tinctly heard faint cries of new born in
FAINT, which afterward died away. Mrs.
Wesley considered the house disorderly.
The family associated only with whites.
Martha. the fifteen year old daughter of
George Wesley, said she slept in the
room adjoining that of Gertrude Pierce,
and was positive that she heard the cry
ing of an infant Friday night. She only
heard it once, when it suddenly stopped.
Mrs. Sarah Pennington testified that
year ago Helen, another daughter, was
mother. The witness was present when
the child was born. No physician was
present then as there was none last Sat-
urday night. At that time Mrs. Penning-
ton took the child from Mrs. Pierce. 1t
was living. Mrs. Pierce.wrapped it up,
head, face and body in blanket, and
laid it at the foot of the bed. The child
could not get air, and it died, a physician
was called afterward and gave death
certificate. Mrs. Pennington considered
the house disreputable one.
David Fox testified that Geo. Sanderlin,
whose son has skipped out, owing to the
birth of Helen's child, said this child had
been smothered. Mr.. Fox said that the
Pierce house was disgrace to the town.
Rev. Morris Webb, said the house was
disreputable one, and report was
current in the neighborhood that the
child in question was unfairly dealt with.
Rev. Mr.. Webb said that the reputation
of the Wesley's was good, and he had
entire confidence in them.
Geo. Sanderlin, Sr., said that he was
full-blooded white man. He boards with
Mrs. Pierce and "six head of children'
living, and Geo. Sanderlin, Jr., lived at
Pierce's with him. The witness said his
wife was living in Salem; not living with
her. He said he was a drinking man,
and had been in. the house Saturday
nights and Sundays. The Pierce family,
he said, does not drink. After living at
this Pierce house three years, he had
never seen any disorderly conduct in the
house. He said that his son was the
father of Helen's child. Sanderlin denied
point blank that he had ever told Daniel
Fox that the first child had ever been
smothered.
Now Sanderlin says that hts son had
just skipped out because Gertrude had
declared the boy was the father of the
child.
On Saturday night, when the second
child was born Sanderlin was there, and
no physician was sent for. NHe did not