The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-04-27
Harsh Treatment.

johnson has been married three times
his second wife being the mother of abb
and Floyd, the two children referred to
The third and living wife was a widow
with one child. Against this stepmothe
Abbie makes serious accusations.
About the 9th of April Mrs. Aston re
ceiYed letter signed ''from a friend" il
which the writer said II write you thi
note to let you know that Abbie johnson
Is very sick with a bruise on the head
The poor child has been al
bruised up this winter and they would
say she run into the table or the stove
but there is never mark on Katie
Katie is the daughter of Mrs. johnson.
Now it is time there is something
done to stop it, and if you come down
will give you the names of lots of people
who l think will help you to do some
thing.''
The letter continues in this strain and
says that the child wants to live with hel
aunt, and also says there will be another
letter awaiting Mrs. Aston in the Mama
hawken post Office.
Mrs. Aston went to Mannahawken and
got the second letter, which was dated
April 6, and was evidently written by the
same person although there was an effort
to disguise the writing. Statements made
IN the first letter were reiterated and an
earnest desire was expressed that Mrs
Aston would take the child home with
her
She did so, and soon after her arrival
the story of the reason for bringing Abbie
from her home leaked out. represent.
alive of The News visited Smithville last
week and inquired into the case. Abbie
was at school, but was called home. She
is bright child and told story that at
once aroused indignation and sympathy.
For long time she says she has been the
object of hatred and ill treatment at the
hands of her stepmother. On the child's
head and body are scars which she de.
clares are the result of brutal punishment.
A seam in the head she says was caused
by blows by heavy stick, scar on the
chin came from being knocked down and
striking chair. A cut on the left hand
came from butcher knife. A bruise on
the elbow resulted from receiving a blow
intended for the head. One night the
child says she was late getting home from
party and was compelled to remain out
doors all night, with no covering but a
thin shawl.
Other instances of harsh treatment are
told by the little girl. When asked why
she never told her father of these things
she said he was seldom home, as he is
engaged at the life-saYing station, and
when anything extra severe had occurred
Abbie would be sent to stay with the step.
mothers father while Mr.. johnson was
home. In response to question why she
had not complained to the neighbors she
said she had been threatened with terri.
BILE punishment If she did.
"Well, Abbie," her uuestioner said
your companions must have noticed
your scars did they never ask you about
them ?" YES" she answered, land ]
told them mamma was sick and cut nv.
self cutting bread. Mamma told me to
say that. When l went to see DR.. Lane
about the bruise on my head she told me
to say l fell against fence"
The child's story was told in a manner
which left no room for doubt, but in
order to corroborate it, the editor of THE
News made personal visit to Mamma
hawken on Saturday to investigate
While few could be found who were will.
ing to admit personal knowledge of af-
fairs, there are evidently many who know
something. The affair is on t Q tongues
OF all with whom one would speak. Oscar
Brown, who has charge of the railroad Of
flee, lives next door to the johnson house
said he had no doubt about the matter.
but would not say that he positively knew
anything. Asked if he had ever heard
any screams he said he had not. His
wife thought she had heard means once
or twice. Mr. Brown is at the railroad
Office all day. He said that Abbie was
very quick child. He had seen her Al
the pump and around the house early on
winter mornings some times as early AZ
half past six. "What was she doing ~
he was asked. Getting breakfast for the
others, suppose they were not around. +"
He had never heard Abbie say anything
about this, but one of the letters saws
the poor child has to get up in the morn
ing and make fire and get as much of
the breakfast as it is possible for her to
get"
The next man seen was DR.. ]. L. Lane.
who, by the way, resided in Pemberton al
one time and was almshouse physician.
Being asked to tell what he could with
out disclosing professional secrets be said
there was nothing to conceal. Abbie
johnson came to his Office one morning
with swollen eye and said her mamma
cOAb AOA III OCdtnOub. 0u0 udQ a QOO0
drawn closely over her head. One eve
was badly swollen. He asked the child
how it happened She hesltated a mo-
ment and then said she did not know.
When she awoke in the morning she
found her eye that way. The doctor gave
her medicine for a cold and sent her
home. Soon after Mrs, johnson came to
the office and seemed greatly worried.
q nJo nfh
and that there was bruIse on the head.
In response to query by the doctor Mrs.
johnson said Abbie fell against the fence.
On examining the bruise Dr.. Lane was
convinced that it never resulted from a
fall. Whether his actions alarmed Mrs.
johnson is not known, but she dispensed
with his services and called physician
from Barnegat, four miles distant.
The writer of the letters was sought for,
but her identity was not disclosed. We
use the word her" advisedly, and with a
few more hours time could probably have
discovered her.
After hearing these statements the
writer thought he would call upon the
stepmother, but the house was tightly
closed and it was learned that the family
had removed from town.
Stacy Johnson is a respected man and
has the reputation of being a kind hus-
band and father. Being a member of a
life-saving crew he is necessarily absent
from his home six days in a week. His
attention was called to the rumors afloat
respecting his child's treatment, but the
only reply he made was that che could
not understand it; Roxie was a good
wife"
The reputation of Abbie for truthful
ness and for being a good, quiet, unas-
Stunning little girl is of the highest order
and residents of Mannahawken, say
that they believe entire reliance may be
placed in any statement she makes, They
do not doubt she has been compelled,
through fear, from telling the facts to the
neighbors. One gentleman relates of her
telling how she received bruise, when
her little brother spoke up and said
"Abbie, why don't you tell the truth; you
know mamma done it.
The case has attracted considerable at
tention in the quiet little village and
there is general feeling that some legal
steps should be taken in the matter.
People buy Hoods Sarsaparilla year
after year because it does them good. 1t
will do you good to take it now.
Medical Society.
The regular meeting of the Burlington
County Medical Society was held at
Burlington Tuesday afternoon. The follow
ing were present: Doctors Martin, of Ran
cocas, and Martin, of Bristol Dubell,