The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-15
STORY OF BRUTALITY.
Little Girl Bears Evidence of Nfistreat-
ment by Parents.

Mrs. J. G. Cofran, of S27 Madison
street. this morning adopted Hazel
Bernice Elder, aged Z years. with the
consent of the father and step
mother of the child.
There is a story of brutality back of
this legal incident which, if true is
one of the cases which should be
brought to the attention of the HUI
name society. The story, as told by
Mrs. Cofran, is bad enough, but the
story told by the innocent little girl,
almost a baby, backed by the exhibit
ton of horrible scars bruises and
fresh wounds on the little body, is still
worse.
To a State Journal reporter who
called at the Cofran home this morn
ing, Mrs, Cofran told the following
story:
sssThree years ago the mother of this
baby, Mrs. Charles Elder, died. The
father gave the baby to me a few
days after the funeral, and promised
that he would never take her away
from me. He paid me a dollar and a
kept her two years, until the 18th of
last September, when the father,
Charles Elder, of 400 East Sixth
avenue, was married to Mrs. Fora
West, who was formerly clerk in
the Office of County Clerk A. NJ. Gala
ham. They had been married but a
few days when they took the little girl
away from me, and she has been hor-
IlH4Y ullSLTGdIGQ ever Slice 4uGE
would not allow her to come and see
me, or even speak of me, and they
took turns beating her. The poor
little thing suffered like that for eight
months. Yesterday she ran away
from Sunday school at the Third and
Lake street church, and came home.
She was marked all over with bruises
and scars. Just look at this" and
Mrs. Cofran called the baby to her
and pointed out scars and Welts on
=, Tho a17fTdsC
ears were swollen from hard pinching,
and looked almost like blood poison
had set in. Her hair was thin, and
compared with a photograph taken a
year ago. gave evidence of having
been pulled out. The child seemed
frightened, and huddled close to her
protector.
Il know they had been abusing the
baby, but didn't know it was so bad.
When the baby came to me yesterday
I didn't know what to do. 1 knew
they could take her away from me,
and I couldn't bear the thought of
the further suffering and abuse she
would have to stand. So I called Mrs
Thorpe, and gave the child into her
care, but I went along to help take
care of her. Chief Goodwin was
called up by the parents, and he came
/ to my house to see about it. They
were sure she came here, and wanted
him to get her. When he found Mrs.
Thorpe here and beard the story he
! said: This is Mrs. ThOrpe'S case, ana
/ I will not interfere with her
MRS. Thorpe kept the baby at her
house while I was getting my at
/ torney. Captain Waters, and making
arrangements to adopt her. In court
| this morning the father gave up all
right to Hazel and she is now my lit
/ tile girl, Hazel COfran."
The new name seemed to please the
child Immensely, and she repeated it
after her foster mother. In answer to
questions the little girl said: 1.-THE
/ last time they beat me was last Mon
day They both whipped me with a
strap and it had a. buckle on the end
of it I ruined away and came
Mrs. Cofran says that the little girl
is not of a disposition which would
warrant chastisement of any kind.
much less such assaults as she had
been subject to. Beside the bruised
ears and SCARED neck and faces Mrs
Cofran says that the little girls limbs
are covered with welts and deep dis
coIoratfons MY step-mother said
she would cut my throat with the
/ scissors. too" said the child, "but
now I am all right got real
M NINA"
Mr.. and Mrs. Elder deny having
/ n1istreated the child.