The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-27

recognize. Sine said she heard Mrs. Marti-
neck say on several occasions to Hazel, /
an going TO strap you She said talk OF
Hazel being abused by Mrs. Martineck was
common" in that neighborhoOd.
Georgia Wood, a colored washerwoman,
said she had talked with Mrs. Martineck
about the failing health Of Hazel Orme,
ana on one occasion advised that the child
be put 70 bed. She said Mrs. Martinek re-
piled, She's not my child, and I'm not able
10 put her 70 ted" The witness did not
know the meaning OF the I'm not able
She said Hazel acted as if she was thor
oughly frightened when Mrs. Martineck
spoke TO her.
George F. Young. a tailor. said he saw
Hazel Orme as she was being taken home
on a street car, about two weeks ago, and
that she looked like a mummy, and ne
could not bear 10 look at her" He said
she was without gloves and he gave his
wooden gloves 10 the father for her.
Mrs. Watts, colored, living at 40 Blake
street, amused the audience by her man
ner. She was an unwilling witness, VINO
was subpoenaed by the State, and took
courtroom quarters with the chief Wit
nesses for the defense. The inference from
her testimony was that children were a
nuisance anyway and needed little consid-
Grafton. She claimed to have seen or heard
of no iII-treatment.
Mrs. Brick said she had visited Hazel at
the Martineck home and the last time
did not recognize the girl. incidentally she
told under vigorous crOsS-eXaminatiOn In
an enOrt 10 DrlnR out 1dCIS OF alleged III
treatment by the parents before Hazel
went 10 the Martineck home, that she had
drunk beer with the family frequently and
that Hazel had several times gone for a
bucketful of beer.
Lawyer orion asked the witness if she
had not seen Mrs. Orme grab Hazel by
the neck, shove her into a corner ana pound
her head against the wall until someone
protested. She said she had not. but that
SUCH a tale had been told 10 her, and she
did not know how truthful 1t was. She
had never seen the child abused.
THAT'S NOT OUR HAZEL"
Anna Orme, an aunt, told of several
visits to see Hazel at the Martineck home.
and of her rapidly failing health, efforts to
get her home and the fact that the girl was
so thin and feeble at the time of her last
visit that, after asking for Hazel and hav-
ing her pointed out to her. she said. That's
not our Hazel" She said the child acted
as if much in fear of Mrs. Martineck.
Mrs. Rafner, living on West Ohio street,
was the next witness. She was a witness
for the defense, and was put on the stand
for the purpose of getting into the home
life and character of Mrs. Orme. who. the
defense claimed, had neglected her child.
She knew Of no abuse, but that Mrs. Orme
had said that she could not get along
with Hazel and that was the reason she
let her go away from home. She made a
statement about Mrs. Orme's red nose, and
in answer to a question said: My boy
said her nose was red" and she in reply
said, 1T is red. l know. Charlie, and 1t
took many a round old dollar to make it
red She also told of one Sunday when
Hazel was at home that Mrs. Orme, she
claimed. and a Mrs Julia Anderson left
Hazel alone at home and went to Fair
bank. Mrs. Orme said that her husband
had gone 10 a ball game and that she was
officer w. A. Joyce, detailed his investi-
cations OF the case. and then after the
reading of the deposition of Hazel Orme,
who is too ill to be in court, the State
rested its case and the adjournment for
supper was taken.
The defense showed in it's direct and
CT Oss-examination that it would rely much
in argument upon the claim that the child
was feeble-minded and her testimony was
incompetent In the matter. In her deposit
ton she stated that she had been under
fed. and principally upon bread and water;
had slept all OF the time at the Martineck
home on two chairs over which coats had
been thrown: that she was obliged to do
heavy work; had been beaten by Martineck
with a strap; had been slapped a number
of times by Mrs. Martineck for meanness.
and had TO wash her hands and face. even
on the cold winter mornings, outside the
kitchen door.
The first witness after the court was
called at $50 o'clock was Florence Hirt,
who said she had visited the Martineck
home about three times a week during the
last year and in that time had never seen
Hazel Orme abused, or even punished, ex-
cept by slight scolding."
THE MARTINECKS TESTIFY.
John W. Fahley. a truant officer, for the
defendants. gave his opinion that the girl
was predetermined. arriving at that con-
cjusion after having once talked with her
about going TO school. Benjamin Hulsker
and his wife. parents of Mrs. Martineck,
had lived in the house with Hazel and
whippings administered to the child. They
| told Of her coming haNE offar a visit 70
her parents and with a bruised check and
a sore arm; and that she claimed it had
been done at home by her parents. William
Martineck and his wife. the defendants,
dence TO this effect.
William Martineck made a good impress
sion by his direct tatements and his man.
ner. He said the child had never been
abused. and never. to his knowledge,
whipped by either himself or his wife. He
admitted that she had been frequently
corrected for stupid mistakes" She was
filthy about her person. and this was the
cause of a great deal OF worry on the
part Of his wife. He knew very little of
what happened during the day. as he went
and did not return until late at night. He
denied many of the charges made by Orme
about the alleged inability TO get the child
back to her home for the reasons given by
Orme.
Mrs. Martineck surprised the audience"
the judge and the prosecuting attorney by
the easy manner in which she told of the
girls mental disability and the numerous
times which she ''smacked" her. ADMITTING
that stupidity on the child's part made her
angry often and that in such spells of anger
she "smacked" the f~eeble-minded girl.
She claimed Hazel Orme was well clothed
and fed and did not have to sleep upon
chairs covered with coats, but upon a col
upon which a feather tick had beer
placed.
George A. McNinery. "a well-driller. whC
was at the house for one day. told of hav.
ING hoard MrG 4 rfinnNE nnnonInsp he.
cause the girl did not do more work and
faster. and then, while combing her hair
violently and in a revengeful manner jerke6
the girls hair. He said in his opinion the
child was grossly abused on that one day.
TuE Ut u0TEI