The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-26

the trspeze he would try to make her re-
volve. She was barefooted. and when she
couldn't get all around ne would take the
hot poker and put IL IN her foot or her leg.
"One day he told her II she didn't do a
certain thing on the trapeze he would make
me burn her with the poker. Sister was
crying and she couldn't do what he want
ed. Then he put the poker in the stove and
told her II she didn't do the trick by the
time the poker was hot he would make me
burn her with IT. She was scared TO death,
but couldn't do the trick.
The poker got red hot and he gave It TO
me and made me bore IL into her leg. / put
the poker near her knee / didn't want TO
% IL. but he hit me in the head and told
me he would kill me II 1 didn't do it
Sister cried awfuIly hard, and he put his
hand over her mouth. so she couldn't hoIler.
Another time his wife took my SISTER by
the hair and ierked her from the floor. She
held her uD in the air and then swung her
around Some Of the hair came out and a
big sore came on her head where the hairs
came out"
While the boy was relating these facts
b little girl. sitting beside him, nodded
her head at each statement. She is a pretty
child. with yellow. curly hair. and she has
q round. chubby face.
PLACED IN DARK CLOSET.
She told OF how Earl and his wife had
put her IN the dark closet as punishment.
They told her that the "bogy man was
in this closet.
can't make the G sound II is most pathetic
to hear her tell OF her treatment.
They used to whip me and brother with
q big strap" she said, land / used to CRY
all the time. They used to put me to sleep
with some nasty stuff that hey would make
US smell 1 used TO wish and wish that
Mamma Thompson would come and get US.
The lagf daN We zAra there they bat rpa
and burned me on the foot Then they put
me in the closet
1T was dark in there and 1 was afraid
all the time. / tfotI saw the bogy man
and / was afraid l was going to die. It
was 70 dark In the closet that / couldn't
hardly get my bref. I learned my prayers
when l was with Mamma Thompson and
1 just tot I'd pray to bod. Mamma Thomp-
son always told me dat bod was dood and
l said. I'm goin' TO ask Dod to bring Nam
ma TO me- 1 knelt on the floor
and 1 said. o. bod. please bring Mamma
Thompson and get me away from these had
people
And in a little while after 1 talked to
bod sure enough the closet door was opened
and there was Mamma Thomson. was
so thankful TO bod 1 didn't know what 10
DO. just cried some more / felt 50 Glad"
SCARS BEAR EVIDENCE OF TREAT
MENT.
There are scars on both Of F1orence's legs
showing where the red-hot iron was an.
piled. and there are ugly scabs on her head
where the hair was extracted. The bov.
however. seems the more seriously injured
OF the two. On his back there are fourteen
wounds where the sharp nail was sunk into
his flesh. while the lower limbs are black
and blne as a result OF the numerous beat
ings administered with the strap.
Both children were tat and healthy when
they left Mrs. Thompson six weeks ago.
Now they are thin and sickly.
John Earl is a prisoner IN the City Work
house He is shackied and Is being closely
watched by the guards. he is a man not
more than % years old and doesn't appear
brutal He denies the statement made by
The children.