Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-03-17
FACES CHARGE
OF CRUELTY
POMONA WOMAN ARRAIG NED
IN JUVENILE COURT
Mrs. Myra Myers Accused Of Subject
Ing Four Children in Her Caro-
to Brutal and Inhuman
Treatment

Mrs. Myra Myers Of Pomona was
arraisned before Judge Wilbur In the
juvenile court yesterday afternoon on
a charge of cruel and inhuman treat
1nent of four children who were in
her care. 1t is alleged among other
things that she forced water from
garden hose into the mouth Of one of
the children, a girl, and that she sub
jected all of them to other cruelties
of a similar nature.
Humane Officer Aiken had obtained
bench warrants for the custody Of the
children-Grace Henderson, aged II;
Juan Rodriguez, aged Is; Mary Myers,
aged TO- and Wesley Myers, aged 8.
Mrs. Myers and the children were
present in court yesterday at the
opening of the case.
Beaten With HorseWhip
The first witness called for the
prosecution was Mrs. G. w. Scott. She
stated that she knew the boy, Juan,
had been severely whipped by Mrs.
Myers with a horsewhip SO that he
had begged for mercy. Mrs, Scott
said that one whipping was the re-
suit of a failure on the part of the
boy to give Mrs. Myers five cents
which he had received for an extra
quart of milk which he was deliver
ing. The witness stated that she had
seen large welts on his body. caused
By whippings, and that the boy had
told her Mrs. Myers had used wires
In whipping him and that after the
welts had appeared she made him put
on extra clothing to cover them up.
]. A. Fender stated that he also
had seen large Jumps on the body or
the boy, which were caused by whip
pings. The witness also said that he
had seen blood stains on the boys
back. Mrs. J. A. Fender corroborated
do If Iyo nd
Mrs. Fannie Baneham testified to
several whippings given the boy by
Mrs. Myers and of the whipping of
Grace Henderson. She said that about
six months ago Mrs. Myers turned the
hose on Grace, ordering her to open
her mouth, with the statement that
she wanted to wash the lies out of it.
She forced the water into the girls
mouth for five or ten minutes.
81 saw the face of Mary" said the
witness, (which was as large as two
after she had been whipped, and I
also saw severe whippings of Wesley.
At such times Mrs. Myers used vulgar
language"
TestIfies to Vulgar Language
At this point in the proceedings Judge
Wilbur requested the witness to write
the alleged vulgar language used by the
defendant. This was done and passed
the attorney for Mrs. Myers and later
to the defendant herself, who shook
her head vigorously.
In her further testimony Mrs. Bane-
ham said that Mrs. Myers had
whipped Grace for being too much
with the boys.
Dolores Ramirez, a Spanish girl,
whose English was difficult to under
stand, gave evidence against Mrs.
Myers, and this closed the prosecution.
DR.. w. Forester, Mrs. Myers family
physician opened for the defense, teS-
tyfying that he had been Mrs. Myers
physician for the last eight years and
was a frequent visitor at her home.
He stated that he had seen no cruel
methods used in the control of the
children, who treated Mrs. Myers re-
spectfully.
Mrs. M. Buckles was next called.
She testified that she had worked for
Mrs Myers at different times in the
last four years and had not seen any
Ill treatment of the children. She said
that the children appeared to respect
the woman and were obedient.
Saw No III Treatment
Mrs. Celia Bromley stated that she
had visited the Myers home for two
years. She corroborated the state
ment made by Mrs. Buckles in regard
S. f. Wagner stated that the treat
ment of the children by Mrs. Myers
was always kindly and respectful.
S. Hernandez, Spanish workman at
the dairy of Mrs. Myers, for whom an
Interpreter was sworn to take his
evidence, stated that he never had
seen anything rash in the control of
the children. He admitted that he
had whipped Grace once with his
hands hut this he said, was in play
and mot to hurt"
judge Wilbur continued the case I'M
til ne3,t Friday afternoon at o'clock.
Grace Henderson was ordered to the
detention home until the case comes
UP for trial. The girl broke down
when she realized that she was to be
placed in the detention home and
wept bitterly.
Mrs. Myers says the charges are
spite work on the part of neighbour
ing women and that she can prove her
innocence.