Middletown transcript., 1901-08-31
AGENT STOUT HoRRIFIED

In cabin of rough logs, through the
wide chinks of which the elements could
play at will, amidst wild tangle of
vegetation and giant forest trees Agent
Frank Stout of the S. p. G. c., unearthed
perhaps, one of the most sanguinary
haunts of degradation in the State of
Delaware, Tuesday about ten miles below
Harrington.
Nude, unkept and diseased, the inmates
! of this primitive dwelling seemed more
like people of by-gone age, than citizens
of a civilized community.
Two weeks ago Mr.. Stout received a
letter from Harrington, in which COM
plant was made to him of the deplorable
condition of three children living near
the abandoned village of Anderville,
who, neglected and naked, were allowed
to roam about the dense pine forests of
that locality. unrestrained and with no
motherly hand qualified to guide them
Alright He hurried to the scene, but
through some misapprehension, the SLOW
enly woman, who called herself the
mother of the children, had received a
warning of his approach aud had hidden
them away. He could, therefore do
nothing.
Tuesday morning another message came
from Harrington bidding Mr.. Stout to
hasten there. He boarded the first ex-
press on the Delaware road and, arriving
at Harrington, was again driven to the
storm-beaten hut in the forests of for
saken Anderville. He was accompanied
by DIR. Barber of Harrington.
Bearing a warrant sworn out before
Magistrate Van easel of Harrington,
Mr.. Stout pushed his vsr through the
dense undergrowth and knac..ed Oh the
door of the crumbling cabin. No answer
came to his summons and he knocked
again. This time the portal slowly open
ed revealing the wrinkled and drawn vi
sage of repulsive bag, who, in an un- |
natural voice, demanded to know the ma
ture of his business. Mr.. Stout pushed |
by her into the cabin and there beheld |
a scene of degradation that fairly appalled, |
him.
Five persons occupied the single room
Of the hut, which had no floor, save the
beaten ground. The interior was dark
and loathsome, the only ventilation being
from the ramshackle door and the numer.
ous chinks between the logs. Flcas and
1ther vermin infested the place and ran
about unmolested, at will. The walls
we're unadorned, and no furniture was
risible, except table of rough boards
md few empty boxes used to sit upon.
With nothing to cover his nakedness, a
nan was lying on two split logs on
which had been strewn a pile of forest
caves. A horrible disease had seized
lim in an iron clutch. About him played
hree children, two boys and girl, also
lude. The woman was but scantily at
ired. The children shrunk from the
trangers at first, but, becoming bolder
ried out for whishey. The woman pro-
luced a black jug, and, after taking a
rink herself, allowed them to have
heir fill of its fiery contents.
Horrified at the spectacle, Mr.. Stout
'laced the woman under arrest and with
he children, returned to Harrington.
Arrange before Magistrate Van Gesel,
he said that she had been married four |
ines, and that she had been living with I
er last husband, Joshua E. Jones. Pre-
ious to Jones. she said her name had '
cen changed from Mary Ellen Scott to l
1ary Ellen Todd and from that to Mrs. {
re hers by Todd, her second husband. c
he girl, whose name is Bessie Mary, is c
2 years old. The boys are past 6 years 9
nd are twins. Their names are Ralph I
nd James Henry Todd. Magistrate Van [
iasel imposed a fine of $40 upon her, $
nd gave the children into the care of
gent Stout, who will place them in the I
lone for Friendless and Destitute Chill 9
rem in this citv. /
The Rev. F. G. Atkins of Harrington I
,ok an active interest in the case and I
as one of the witnesses against the
oman.
George L. Baird proprietor of the rail- $
BAD restaurant fed the children prior {
} leaving Harrington. They ate raven
usly and appeared to have had nothing e
, eat for sometime. Wilmington San. $