El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-29

man u Fined -OtAer court and
Police Notes.
The trial of the Davenport kidnap-
ing case did not attract as much of a
crowd of spectators as was anticipat-
ed. Only about ten persons were pres
ent besides those directly interested
in the outcome. The case was not
called promptly at o'clock for the
lawyers and witnesses We're slow in
coming in and the defendant did not
put in an appearance until nearly a
half hour had elapsed
Finally w. w. Bridgers announced
to the court that the prosecution was
ready 10 proceed with the examina-
ton of such witnesses as were on hand
with the understanding that the case
would be continued until tomorrow.
The court and hte defense agreed to
this and the case went to trial.
Alfred Milligan. father of the
child. was the first witness CALI
ed to the stand. He is a man of good
appearance and is said to have the
reputation of being an honest and
hardworking man.
Witness said he had a daughter NAM
ed Edith. thirteen years of age; she
left home last Friday and he had not
seen her since until few minutes be-
fore when she went into Lawyer Stan
tons office.
w. w. Bridgers conducted the direct
examination of the witness.
Witness said: Thursday night when
went home my daughter had gone.
had reason to believe that she was at
Gyp Davenport's. | complained to
Chief Lockhart and he detailed two
men to go with me to the house on
Stanton street The officers questioned
the woman in my presence and she ad-
mitted that the girl had been in her
possession. She said she had good
reasons for OBTAINING the child and
when l told her that she might get
into trouble she said | would get into
trouble.
Il found out not long ago that my
daughter had not been at school for
ten days. She confessed to me that she
had been to visit Gypsy Davenport:
that Mrs. Wright had taken her there.
| demonstrated with her and whipped
her with a strap. She sent me word
hot for me-"
Gross questioned by Mr.. Stanton).
How did your daughter get that
black eye?"
II don't know. sir
Did you strike her there"
No. | do not think So said the
witness with a sheepish expression of
Did You make those marks on her
body when you whipped her?"
NO sir; | think not. The strap 1
used was a very small one
Howard Wilmington. a lad of ten
years of age was the next witness. He
said he was present at Mrs. Wright's
house one Sunday afternoon when Mrs.
Wright. Gypsy Davenport and his sis
ter We're present.
Cross questioned he said he slept out
each night for a week because he was
afraid to go home. He had been bad
At school and was afraid his father
would whip him. His father had whip
ped him many times with a strap. Wit
ness said his age was nine. Edith, he
said had to do the family washing
On Saturdays while she was attending
school.
The defendant during this examina-
ton frequently bent forward and whis-
pered into the ear of her counsel.
The girl Edith. the most interesting
figure of the trial. was next ushered
in from Mr.. Stantons Office. She is a
sweet faced little girl with soft voice
rosy cheeks. and blue eyes. She said
she would be fourteen in December.
She is not unusually large for her age.
Her testimony was damaging to her
father. She said she had been severely
punished. time and again She exhibit
ed black eye which she said was caus-
ed by her father striking her and said
her beck was striped from lashes of the
strap with which her father whipped
her She sought refuge with Gypsy"
who had been kind to her.
Her mother died when witness was s
years of age.
Gypsey Davenport arrested Saturday
afternoon on a warrant charging her
with kidnapping little fourteen year
old Edith Wilmington, appeared before
Justice Ellis this afternoon at , O'Clock
for a hearing.
Little Edith Wilmington had been
missing since last Friday night She
and her nine year old brother had
been boarding in this city with n Mrs.
Wright and attending school. Their
father is an employee of the smelter
and was recently separated from his
second wife. About week ago he
learned that his daughter had for some
time had the habit of playing truant.
from school and instead of attending
regularly was accustomed to leaving
her brother at the school house door
and going to visit Gypsy Davenport at
her house. The father learned that
this had been going on for nearly a
week and demonstrated with his child.
but in vain.
The woman herself admitted that she
had known Edith since the day of the
circus and now people are wondering
what right a woman of her class had
to form the acquaintance of young
girl.
Friday night Edith disappeared and
her father accompanied by two officers
visited the Davenport womans place
and demanded his child. The woman
refused point blank to give her up,