The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-12-28
TOUCHING SCENE IN
JUDGE LAKES COURT

For some time the neighbors of the
Helmer family at Mount Hood have
been complaining about the treatment
of the children by their parents. Re-
Gently IA formal complaint was made
by number of the residents there
and the case was taken to court. Last
Wednesday 1t came to trial and the
following account Of it Is taken from
The Dalles Chronicle:
There was touching scene in Judge
Lakes court this morning, where
eight residents of the Mount Hood
district had been summoned to give
testimony In the investigation Of the
case OF Charles Helmer, who is ac.
cused of cruelty to his children. And
pitted against their damaging stories
was that with one of his alleged vic
tins, Fred, the l3-year- old boy. As
he sat in the court room listening to
the stories of cruelty as told by neigh
bors interested in his welfare, as to
the cruel beatings he was subjected to
at the hands of an irate parent, 10y
atty was pictured ON his little thin
face and under his breath he was
constantly saying, Lilies Lies !"
Once he turned to the reporter and
said, "That'sa a nice batch of lies she's
telling"
Finally Freddie was called to the
stand and through tears were detected
in his voice, he was staunoh, nor ever
wavered. When asked IL his father
mistreated him he promptly answered
"Nop'
"When did he whip you lastH" ask
ed the judge. "Oh, not for a long
while; not since | had the runaway
(when it is said his father beat him
badly) That was In November. -"
"Don't they keep you and viii
homs from school and make you
workS,' questioned the Judge. Hest.
..asingly he fnswe' Yes, but Bill
can't go; he gets tns peadaohe. |"
When asked IL he wanted to stay at
home with his parents. the boy an
swered emrhatiCalll that he did, and
throughout it eli, even while those
who heard LiM plainly detected his
purpose, the lad scorned to say aught
against his parents.
A touching incident In his testi-
mony reminded those who heard him
of the beautiful poem, "We Are
Seven" Asked by the judge as to
how many children there are In the
family, he said eleven, and then
added, Give of us is dead.
Mr. and Mrs. Helmer failed to ap-
pear, and In spite of Freddie's
staunch defence, the witnesses pre-
sented some very strong evidence of
the cruelty the children are subjected
to, Mrs Lenz telling Of the severe
beatings Freddie gets and Mrs. Noble,
who assisted in the housework, gave
a very straight story Of the indigni-
ties heaped upon the half witted girl,
Alice, by her stepmother; how she
gushed from her face. Other neigh
bors claim she is not half fed, nor re-
ceives the medical attention necessary
when she Is i'll.
The witnesses called were Mrs. No.
BILE, Mrs. Lenz, Mrs. Vauthi re-, Mrs.
Larwood, Mr.. and Mrs. ID. r. Cooper,
O. A. Rhodes and Miss Nan Cooper.
The entire morning was consumed
in questioning the witnesses, Judge
Lake aud District Attorney Menefee
omitting nothing which would have a
bearing on the case. At noon the
Judge took the matter under advise
ment.
The general opinion seems to be
that the advice of Superintendent
Gardner will be followed--that is, to
place the boys under the supervision
of the Boys and Girls Aid Society,
leaving them with their parents pend
in good treatment.
The girl, Alice, was sent to the
state asylum at Salem where she will
will be cared for.