The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-08
The Full Penalty of the Law Visited
Upon Persons Responsible for
the ChiId's Suffering.
POLICE COURT ROOM CROWDED
BOTH MRS. ORME AND MRS. MARTI-
NECK WEPT BITTERLY.
Probably the Most Unusual case Ever
Tried in a Local Court-Judge
Stubbs's Statement.

Probably not IN the history of the In
cianapolis Police Court have there been
scenes more affecting than those witnessed
yesterday during the conclusion of the trial
of the Martineck-Orme case. There were
few dry eyes in the courtroom. even among
those who were there out of morbid curiosi-
ty Judge Stubs, in.passing sentence upon
William Martineck, Kate Martineck his
wife, and John Orme and Belle .Orme
parents of little Hazel Orme, stopped sew
eral times. his eyes filled with tears, which
rolled down his cheeks, to get better con-
troll of his voice, which was throughout
weak and trembling. He spoke quietly
but with intense earnestness Each of the
defendants was fined s25 and costs and
sentenced to the workhouse for sixty days
The case has been continued from time
to time to receive additional evidence, and
opened yesterday morning with Mrs. Mar
tineck who took the stand to deny the
allegations made in the testimony of Mrs
Lydia Haley, who said she had seen Hazel
Orme eat scraps from a garbage can. She
denied that the girl had been subjected TO
such treatment would necessitate her
going to a garbage can to get food. and as
serted she had been well fed and cared
for.
The next witness was Dr. F. A. Morrison
He appeared as an expert and at the solici-
tation of Judge Stubbs, who engaged him to
go TO the Orme home and examine the child
thoroughly, and agreed himself TO bear all
the expense of the examination. DIR. Morri-
sons testimony was the first. after a thor
ough diagnosis. of the child's illness, and
was a great surprise, being startling in it's
nature He said he had made complete
physical and microscopic examinations and
could discover no evidences OF tubercular
trouble. He declared positively that her
condition was due to lack of nutrition. A
microscopic examination of the blood
showed there was only about So per cent
of the element of nutrition. and that in
his opinion a lack of nourishment alone
had caused her present condition. He said
the natural changes from childhood to
womanhood could not cause such a condi-
ton of the blood as was found.
SYMPTOM ALWAYS PRESENT.
He said the child was suffering from
fever, which is always symptom follow
ing starvation. Her temperature when he
examined her was 100 degrees, and this is
the same as was shown several days ago by
Morrison said he noticed that Hazel
was afraid TO answer questions.
and each time, before answering
him, she would glance, as if in
fear. about the room to see if she was being
watched He said she did this i'm man
ner which convinced him they were invol-
untary and habitual. During his testimony
the courtroom was perfectly quiet, every
one listening eagerly 10 his words
The arguments by Prosecutor j. A. Col
Inns, o. B. Orton. representing the Marti-
necks. and d. L. Brown, jr., who appeared
for Mr. and Mrs. Orme, followed the evil
dence of DR.. Morrison.
Prosecutor Collins argued strongly for
the conviction of both the Martinecks and
the Ormes 1t had been shown in the evil
dence that Orme had worked continuously.
and he claimed there was no reason why
their child OF tender years should be put
out to make her own living. and still less
reason for sending her To family of for
eigners many of whom looked upon chill
dren as a nuisance and with little consid-
Grafton for their feelings He said that
even though the child had been sent to a
good home, she was too young 10 be nut
out as domestic and away from a mother
who should have given her care and atten-
ton Among other things he said:
There was never reconcentrado under
Weyler who was in a worse condition than
this helpless little child There is no mani