Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
ToRTURINo A CHILD
ONE OF TWO CHARGES FILED
AGAINST FRANK DEMENT,.

eighteen years of age and of assauating his
wife. Frank Dement,, a bricklayer. was ar
raigned in the Police Court today before
Judge Kinialj. In the case Of the assault
, on Mrs. Dement, the defendant pleaded not
guilty and demanded jury trial; and in
| the other he pleaded not guilty and waived
| preliminary examination. Assistant United
States Attorney Ralph Given announced
| that the charge of assault on the wife
would be tried next Wednesday. Outside of
the arraignment there was nothing done In
the case in court today. Bond was fixed at
SLIGO, in default of which Dement, was
committed to jafl
While Dement, was pleading not guilty to
assault his wife sat on a bench near by.
| She told the detectives that she Is badly
bruised all over
Prior to O'Clock yesterday morning Mrs
| Dement, says. she had been prisoner for
eight weeks in two small rooms In house
III Sth street and while her husband was
away she was locked in one small room
about s by 10 feet in size She managed
| yesterday morning to get to friends she
says. About O'clock. while she was cook
| ing breakfast for herself and husband she
discovered that the front door of their
| suite was open. While her husband re-
| manned In the kitchen she made an excuse
| to go to the front room to get handker-
chief She crept silently to the door and
rushed down stairs to the room of Mrs
Bertha Wallace. who rents the house Then
she told Mrs. Wallace the story of her
treatment, alleging that she had been i'm
plls ;' ana beaten for eight weeks. De-
titled, and he proceeded to the house
Inc door OF the Dement, rooms was found
10 De locked when the detectives called
about 10 O'Clock Thinking that Dement,
was inside and at the request of Mrs De-
ment, who wanted to get her two-year-old
child who was in the rooms the door was
broken down and the detective entered, ac-
oil pa1f@
dentz Gas was found flowing from two
jets IN the room. and the little one who is
dement's stepehiid, was almost overcome
Sne was rescued and restored to the mother
who was waiting downstairs
Tried to Escape.
Dement, was not found in the house. so
the policemen started out in quest of him.
About o'clock in the evening Dement,
called Mrs. Wallace by phone and asked
about the child. Mrs. Wallace did not give
full answers. hoping thereby to induce him
was stationed. Dement, later appeared, and
as he sat on bicycle at the curb his wife
went to the door. Then Policeman Isle
OF the first precinct Fastened from the
house to arrest him. Dement, was off like
flash. it is reported, but he was soon cap
tured and taken to the first precinct sta
ton.
When asked about the matter while ne
Dement, said that he beat his wife for what
ne regarded as good reason. He declared
that he did not try to kill the child The
gas was left burning In the stove for cook
ing. he said and In some way the jets were
extingushed
Mrs. Dement, says that she was a widow
when she married Dement, several months
ago. Since they have been together she
adds. she has been beaten many times by
him. Her husband last Thursday evening,
she charges. found something out Of place.
He accused her Of trying to get away and
attacked her. beating her about the body
and head with his fist. It was then that
she resolved to get away.
Black and Blue From Beating.
Miss Estelle Foster of the board of chill
dren's guardians examined the child this
morning, and, according to her, the little
body is black and blue from beatings. Miss
Foster offered the aid of the board for Mrs
Dement, and her baby
Dement,, it Is explained. took the precau-
| lions to prevent the escape of his wife In
| the kitchen, where she says she was a pris-
oner while he was away both windows
| have large padlocks on them, and they are
nailed. Further, cloth has been covered
| over the windows to enable him to see II
| his wife tried to raise them. The door was
fastened with the regular lock. and in al
| ditfon with paddock. The windows in the
front room were also locked and the door
had a heavy lock on 1t.
| Mrs. Dement, said today that she had
| been unable to communicate with her
| father John Harrison of Frederick Md as
Dement, would destroy her letters
The penalty for torturing a child with
| which Dement, Is charged as provided un-
| der the District code. is fine of not more
| than $3.50, or Imprisonment for not more
than two years. Or both. The penalty for
| assault Is not more than one year In jail
|