The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-25
DID SHE PINCH?
One of Questions in Child Beat
ing Case.
Mrs. ZOrah Elder Before the City
Court.
JUSTIFIES HER ACTS.
Whipped Seven Year Old Child
Only When Necessary.
Says She Was Impertinent and
Hard to Manage.
HER ACTS.

MY SLGDulOL1lGL DuA1SQ 4EAy Ce1A . anu
pinched them and made them sore.
She pinched and pulled them as hard
as she could. She came up to me and
was going to put some scissors to my
throat because she said everything
said was a falsehood. She whipped
me with sticks and she whipped me
with strap. She pulled my hair and
pulled my hair out in big punches.
A week ago Sunday she whipped me
before I went to Sunday school and
said to myself then, I win never take
a whipping off of her again. I went
to Sunday school and then went to
Mrs. Cofran's .f'-The statement of
Bernice Elder, aged years and
months, on the witness stand in the
city court this morning.
''Bernice Elder came to my house
Sunday May 4. I called Mrs. Beeler
and we examined her. We found her
thigh black and blue and marks as if
made by a whip. There was a black
and blue spot in her forehead. One
ear was swollen and the other ear was
black and blue. She had a scar on the
side of her head and small white scars
on her neck. Her hair, which had
been long and heavy and curly was
thin ''-Statemen of Mrs. Ida F. COT
ran of 827 Madison street who adopted
Bernice Elder on Monday, May Is.
when married Mr.. Elder last
September Bernice had not been to
school I sent her to school and we
gave her music lessons on the piano.
She went to Sunday school every Sun
day and I went with her all but three
Sundays. I got her ready for school
every day. Last March / went to Ohio
to visit my parents and Bernice was
with me there a month. While there
she was sick with a violent case of
hives and later had chickenpox. I did
not whip her the Sunday morning she
left home. The glands below her ears
were swollen from tonsilitis. The
Wednesday before she left home she
was impudent and I chastised her. 7
had polished her shoes ready for her
to go to school. She was washing her
face and splashed water on her shoes.
I asked her if she would not be more
careful and not splash water on her
shoes. She said I don't know wheth-
er I will or not and I spanked her.
never pulled her hair nor pinched her
ears but when punishment of standing
her in a corner, putting her in a chair
or sending her to bed did not do any
good I switched her around her legs
not more than two or three tines -
Statement of Mrs. Fora Elder.
When the trial of Mrs. Fora Elder.
charged with cruelty toward her step
daughter, Bernice Elder, was called in
the city court this morning by Judge
McCabe the jury box was crowded with
women, some members of the Foster
Humane society, interested in the case
but they did not act as a jury.
Bernice Elder, q very precocious
child was the principal person in the
case and on the stand she told her
story in a very straightforward and
certain manner like one many years
older. She was not disconnected by the
/ stares of the crowd in the court room
and she seemed to enjoy the situation.
What did your stepmother do to
your asked Assistant County Attor-
ney AGcNary, when the little girl seated
herself in the witness chair.
She pulled my ears and pinched
4 them replied Bernice Elder.
Did she pull your hair2'
she pulled my hair and pulled it
out. She whipped me Sunday morning
and then went to Mrs. Cofran's.'
Before Charles Elder and Mrs. Fora
! West were married last September,
/ Bernice Elder had lived with Mrs. COT
/ ran for some time and Mrs Cofran was
much attached to the little girl.
tsWere you sick while you were in
Ohio with your step mother?'' Captain
MeNary asked of Bernice.
yes, sir, I had hives and sore
throat" replied Bernice ssAnd they
were great big hives
What did your step mother do for
the hives p
ssShe put grease on Them
"Have you been taking music les
Eyes, sir
you are rather small to take music
lessons"
yes, sir, but some people say I play
real nicely
''Why did your step mother whiE
you?'' asked z. T. Hazen on cross
examination.
"She objected to my playing with
other children" replied Bernice.
"she didn't want you. running
boys and girls?''
yes, sir
And you didn't like that: yor
wanted to play with the boys anc
gfrls?''
'I don't like the boys