Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-19
POLICE WORK ON
A HORRIBLE CASE.
Mrs. Atiburn Arrested for Gross
Cruelty to Dwarf.
BUTFORTY-TWO INCHES TALL
Doctors Have Been Called In aud
Have Practically Decided 20 Send
the Midget 60 Hospital

Probably never In the history OF the
police department of this city has It
had jurisdiction over 30 shocking case
as that which has come under its no
tice.
II involves the downfall OF l7-year-
old girl, dwarf who is but A. inches in
helghth. To casual observer she APP
pears as a child of seven or eight
years
The facts in the case were made
known by Chief Hilton two or three
days ago, after he and his officers had
worked up the details This morning
Officers G. A. Sperry and Andrew
Smith Jr., arrested a woman atmed
Mrs. Artlburn on the charge OF assiult-
ing and beating the dwarf. Both we're
taken to the police station by the Off !.
GERS and are being detained In Chief
Hiltons private Office. Some time ago
the police learned that the midget
whose name is Bessie Riley, was stay
ing with Mrs. Artiburn on Second South
between Fourth and Faith West, and
that the girl was In delicate condi-
tion, Later It was reported that Mrs.
Artiburn was shamefully abusing her
charge and neishbors feared 1t would
result In her death Chief Hilton in
vestigated the matter and found the
facts to be as reported.
She admitted, upon being questioned,
that Mrs. Artiburn beat her on several
occasions.
Last Saturday officer sperry was sent
a 10 H..
TO bring the Riley girl w 10 the police
station. When he arrived at the place
and stated his business, Mrs Artiburn
seized the girl and refused TO allow the
officer to take her. Threats were OF no
avail The woman would not permit
the officer 10 enter the house, neither
would she allow the gin to leave the
place. This morning the chief decided
70 arrest her. Accordingly Il warrant
was issueEDy Judge Dieh and the GILL
GERS proceeded to make the arrest.
When Mrs. Artiburn saw the patrol
wagon, she swore she Would not ac-
company the officers II they insisted on
her riding In the wagon. Then in COM
pany With the officers she and the girl
walked TO headquarters.
AT the station the woman demanded
to know II she was permitted to speak.
When Informed that she was, the wo-
man said:
This child MAJ say anything she
wantA to about mi. but / want you TO
understand she shall not s,ly one word
relative to her condition."
The girl chung 10 the woman sob
bling and begged the officers not 10 lock
Mrs. Arthur In Jail. They were taken
into the chiefs office. where they viii
be held pending further investigation
When the case first came TO the notice
of the authorities Drs. King and Beat
" were consulted with reference TO
the girls condition. According to the
physicians It will become necessary to
send the girl to the hospital
BOND FIXED AT $3.50.
When the case was called before
Judge Diehl this afternoon Mrs. Arti-
burn pretended to be unable to hear
anything the court said-although she
distinctly heard all that Chief Hilton
said TO her before court. Judge Diehl
and Prosecutor Schulder tried vainly
TO make her understand. Finally Of
ficer j. ID. Brown approached her and
shouted In her ear Are you guilty or
not guilty Of striking the childY"
The woman said she was not guilty
and was not ready for trial. In tha
meantime the dwarf was crying hys-
terically and the officers tried 10 get her
TO leave the court room but she refused
to move. Judge Diehl summoned Mrs.
Artiburn close to the bench and said
This case will be get for tomorrow at
2 pm. Your bail will be fixed In the
sum Of $3.50 and In default OF bail you
Will be committed 70 the custody of
the chief Of police. Now go over there
and sit down"
The woman was unable to furnish the
amount required and when she was
taken down stairs the dwarf chung 10
her sSa eegyed the officers to lock her
up too.
When this report closed they were
both In Chief IIiltons Office