The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-15
BENNINGTON
WAS CRUEL.
And Is Fined $500 and
Costs for Neglecting
His Children.

Court this morning, Samuel Hannum
was fined 81 and costs tor being
drunk.
VIM. Moyce was charged with
drunkenness; he got out OF jail on
Friday last; he goes over for twenty
days.
William Baldwin was charged
with being drunk and disorderly.
Mrs. Katie Glasco testified that he
picked up two bricks and started
towards the door. He used bad
language. He was fined $40. and
costs.
Laura ]. Simmons, colored, was
arraigned on the charge of being
incorrigible. She was turned over
to the S. p. &. C. Mr.. Stout testi--
fed that she formerly lived at Mid
dletown; serious complaints have
been made about her conduct since
she came to Wilmington.
Sidney A. Bennington was charg.
ed with having placed the lives OF
his three children in danger by ne
| plecting them He entered a plea OF
not guilty. He was represented by
Robert Fraim. Willard Hall Porter
prosecuted the case.
Frank Stout, agent Of the S. p. c.
I c., testified that a complaint had
been made to him that Bennington S
children had been neglected. He
visited the house and found the
mother dead. Lying on the board
alongside was the body OF a baby.
The other baby was buried few
days previous. He took the other
two children to the residence OF
Mrs. Hudson at 1923 Reed street.
DR.. D. J. McColley deposed he at
tended Mrs. Bennington and he had
not seen Bennington at the house
since last August. During the first
week of March he was at the house
from four to six times a day. Mrs.
Bennington told HIM her friends
were supplying her with food. The
medicine was furnished by drug
gist at cost price. He did not see
Mr.. Bennington there during his
visits. Mrs. Bennington did some
sewing to support herself and chill
drcn. He did not think the children
showed signs of being neglected.
| Mrs. Isabella M. Carpenter testi-
fed that the girl now in the Della
ware Hospital had been at her
house. The two smaller. children
got food in basket daily to take
home. Mary gained eight pounds
while living at her house. Bennlng-
ton called at the house on one occa-
sion and brought his little girl a
pair of shoes and two pairs stock
ings. -. ,
Mrs. Elizabeth Stroud testified
she has been visiting Mrs. Bennlng-
ton for six years. She had neither
fuel nor clothes for herself or chill.
dren. The same condition prevail
ed up to the time of her death. In
November the woman was very SICK
and was trying to do some sewing.
There was neither coal or provisions
in the house at that time.
On the Tuesday of the blizzard,
Mrs. Stroud found that the two lit
tie babies had arrived. Want was
in the house and there was no nurse.
Finally Mrs. Matthews was called
in and faithfully performed her duty.
The young people and others of the
Second Baptist Church furnished
the clothing and So has been spent
since last November for the benefit
of the family. Noone but the church
workers and some of the neighbors
furnished anything to Mrs Ben
nington or her children. She never
met the husband at his own house
Mrs. Jennie Lane testified she
visited the house and on several oc
casions made donationsof children
clothing. Until Mrs. Bennington
died witness was a daily visitor tt
the house. Mr.. Lane had given or
ders to supply everything that wa
needed at the house.
Undertaken James II. Chandle
gave his services free and burict
the mother and tive babies free O
charge. The mother was so i'll sh
could not make the, clothing for he
children.
Mrs. Matthews testified she nurse'
: Mrs. Bennington. She was engae
ed BY the ladies of the Second Bar
fist Church. Neighbors had bee
at the house, but at night she wa
alone. She had to care for the ba
bies and the fire had gone out d
night. She was instructed by Mrs
= Lane and Mrs. Stroud, to get med
cine and not let the woman war
for anything. Bennington Gale
one afternoon to see the little CIR
She refused to let him see his wilt
DIR. McCollcy had DR.. Draper
consultation that day and the woma
was dying. On the night of the da
: the woman died, Bennington calle
/ l.. L.. I,H To l.