Bridgeton pioneer., 1901-10-17

GIle girl lace anu Ullou GOOh H6r III u
horse shed and beat her with heavy
rope
The little girl told of other beatings
she received. At one time Mrs. Shep-
pard pushed the little girl through
the window and broke pane of glass.
Then when Mr.. Sheppard came home
he gave her terrible beating with
cart whip, around the face Again,
he accused her of stealing eggs and
eating them He threw her upon the
floor and put his foot on her face,
breaking a tooth. The little girl told
a straightforward story and even on
cross-examination repeated with accu-
racy the testimony she had previously
given.
Edward Cossaboon, farmer, living
about three hundred yards away from
the Sheppard home, heard the screams
of the little girl on the night of Aug.
ust fourth. Mr. Cossaboon started
for the Sheppard home and saw Mr..
Sheppard whipping the little girl.
Il told him to let up, and stop whip
ping her," said the witness. "He
told me the next day that he broke a
whip over the girl. -
The witness saw the bruises and
cuts ON the girls face and neck.
Albert McAllister, clerk in Prose-
cutor Fithian's office was called He
saw the little girl as she was being
taken home. Mr.. Eastburg stopped
at the Prosecutors office with the
little girl and there Mr.. McAllister
noticed the cut and bruised face of
the child.
The defense then offered evidence.
Charles Sheppard was called. He
said he was twenty eight years old.
When the girl came to his house she
had scars on her face which came
from injuries received at a previous
time. He denied whipping the girl
around the face and said he just cut
her few times around the body.
The bruises on her face were from a
fall down stairs. Mr.. Sheppard said
the girl was in the habit of telliug
stories and lies. He only whipped
the girl three times. On cross -exami-
nation Prosecutor Fithian produced a
letter which said in part, "We whip
the girl every day." and had Mr.
Sheppard's name signed to it. The
witness said he did not write it but
his wife did to make the Friends
Home authorities come and get the
girl
Mrs. Alfretta Sheppard, wife of
Charles Sheppard was called. Mrs.
Sheppard said she told Mr.. Sheppard
to whip the child every time he did
so. The witness said her husband al
ways stopped beating the girl when
she would own to the truth. She said
the bruises and scars on her face were
from falling down stairs.
Tins ended the testimony for the
day, and Court adjourned.
Thursday Morning.
When Court convened this morning,
Nicholas Detonne, indicted for assault
and battery, entered plea of guilty
The finishing touches were put upon
the Sheppard case and it went to the
jury.
Thursday Afternoon.
The jury in. the Charles Sheppard
case, after being out some time, con-
cluded upon a verdict of guilty.
Samuel Housand was brought in
from the Jail next, by direction of
Prosecutor Fithian, and lie became
the central figure of the Court
1t is not Sans first appearance in
the role of defendant He has been
indicted for lot of things and usu-
ally is convicted. He was once SEN
fenced to State Prison, and has sew
eral times been in jail.
This time Housand was charged
with assault and battery upon his
wife, and the principal story was told
by her.
that her married life began in 1877
and that seven children had been
born, three of whom were living with
her. For two years Sam has not
lived with her, and contributed moth
ing toward her support. By washing
and other work she has managed to
live in little home on Willow street.
On the Both of June last Sam came
to her house and savagely announced
that if she did not come to live with
him, he would choke her to death.
She at once refused, and in explana-
tion said to the jury, she could not
live with her husband because he was
such a. bad man. Her answer angered
Housand and he sprang upon her,
choked her severely and hurt her con-
siderably. The marks of the cruel
choking remained upon her neck for a