The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-07-26
lsich Woman Convicted Of
y Having Cruelty
|RTURED TO DEATH

In the Criminal Court of Flandreau,
IS. D., a few days ago, sat two wo-
men who represented opposite poles
Of the social world. The rich woman,
wife Of a millionaire politically pow
erful, was on trial charged with
murder. Upon her proud face were
fixed the eyes Of the poor woman,
almost friendless and without influ-
ence Of any kind,
The charge and the testimony show
ed that the rich woman had fiendish-
ly tortured to death the only daugh-
er of the poor woman.
The naughty face of the rich Wo-
man indicated her belief that no jury
would dare convict the wife Of her
influential millionaire husband. The
poor woman, broken with grief, look
ed dazed. Suddenly she left her seat
among the spectators and approach
ed the rich woman. Was she about
to attack the murderess of her daugh-
ter?
No such thought was in her mind.
Her conduct was even more sensa-
tional. 1t was indescribably affect
ing. Dropping to her knees in the
aisle and raising her toil-worn hands
aloft, while tears streamed from her
eyes, she besought the Almighty to
pardon the one who had tortured to
death her only child.
20 God, forgive the murderer Of
my daughter!" she prayed.
Then the poor WOman'S mind and
body collapsed, and it was found nee
essary to take the mother of dead
Agnes Polreis back to her wretched
little home in the country near Park
ston, S. D., whence Agnes had come
two years before, to be beaten to
death~-so it is charged---by her rich
mistress, Mrs. Emma Kaufman,
wife of Moses Kaufman, the mil
lionairc brewer Of Sioux Falls, S. d.
The story Of this instance of al
most incredible cruelty practised up
on a maid servant by her mistress
was printed in these pages a year
ago. Agnes Polreis, a pretty girl of
sixteen, was hurriedly sent from
Mrs. Kaufmann's house to a Sioux
Falls hospital where, next day. she
died. Mrs. Kaufman was arrested
on the testimony of other servants
that she had Systematically tortured
anu virtually DCdISll OuS SHl "
death.
Of course the rich woman was adj
mitted to bail. In answer to the
statements of the accusing servants
---who said that the woman had an
ungovernable temper and that they
were often compelled to flee to the
cellar from her dangerous wrath---it
was explained that Mrs. Kaufmann's
mind has been affected by the death
of her daughter several years ago
The sight Of any other g~irl---especi
ally a fresh enc Ike Agnes polreis--
maue her frantic.
So strong was public sentiment
against Mrs. Kaufman in Sioux Fall:
that her attorneys obtained a change
of venue for her trial to Flandreu
The news that she had been admit
ed to bail caused such a mob to gath
er at the Jail that she was smugglet
out of a back door to her home
where she had to have police protec
ton.
Mr.. Kaufmann's wealth had pro
cured the best legal talent in tn,
West for his wife's defence. Sever
al medical experts were placed OF
the witness stand. To them was pur
the following Hypothetical ques
tons" which catalogue the wound,
found upon the body of Agnes Pol
refs after her death:
Assume the following facts: A
patient sixteen years old is in a very
emaciated condition. She has a sore
having the appearance Of a cut about
one and one-half to two inches long
transversely across the point of the
left shoulder; she has a sore having
the appearance of a cut tr%ansverscly
across the point of the right elbow
extending down to the joints; she
has a similar sore upon the point Of
the left elbow.
She has a gangrenouS sore upon
the point of each shoulder blade; the
ring finger of the left hand is dis.
jointed, with the bone %protruding;
the cutie is off the ends of the fin.
gers; the bone protrudes through the
tip Of one finger; there are numerous
discolorations upon the body; the left
knee is badly swollen, the skin brok-
en- and off, from the left ankle the
skin is off the top Of the foot; the
sole of the foot is entirely loose,
hanging down; the cuticlc is off from
the toes and the rest of the foot; the
right foot is in practically the same
condition.
"Such being the facts, state wheth-
er or not, in your opinion, such con
ditions would be due to externel VIC
lcnce or disease and its results"
DR.. Spafford---In my opinion to
violence.
DIR. Rider---ln my opinion to dis
ease and its results referring to the
disease Diabetes mellitus).
In cross-examining DR.. Onley, of
Sioux Falls, Prosecuting Attorney
Egan asked:
"How could the wound on the left
shoulder be self-inficted?"
AL claim these wound were not
self-infictcd.
Q.---How could they be inflicted by
another? '
A.---By taking a knife and cutting
across.
A part Of the testimony of pctc,
Erickson, the man who worked at the
KaufmannS' home; follows:
Q.---Did Mrs. Kaufman eve
threaten the dead girl with violence?
A.---Shc said, "That girl is so stub
born that | could Kill her."
0.---Did YOU ever see Mrs. Kanf-