The Washington herald., 1907-06-22

Avondale. Pa.June u.-Little Mary New
Inns body was found buried in the yard Of
her steDfather's home at Il o'clock this
morning. The child had been strangled 70
death. Irwin a. Lewis. the stepfather.
was Immediately placed under arrest, ac-
cused Of the murder Of the five-year-old
child When the body was discovered Dis
trict Attorney MacElree, who from the
first had discredited the kidnapping theory
and scented foul play, accused him Of the
crime.
You murderer, you scoundrel you
dog shouted the district attorney; why
did you murder that little Chnd?"
There was a gurgling in Lewis throat
as he tried 10 speak.
Il didn't do it-I didn't do IT," was all
he could blurt out.
The district attorney again and again
accused him Of the murder Of his wife's
nameless child
The mans face grew the color of chalk.
He tried to control his bloodless lips. but
all he could stamm~- was. NO. no: my
God. no; I didn't; didn5 do it,
Lewis was taken 10 Landenburg. where
he was committed by ". W. Sullivan, the
squire. Meanwhile an angry mob had
gathered and there were threats Of
lynching A show Of weapons on the part
Of Lewis captors was all that prevented
violence.
When MacElree, who had spent the
night in the vicinity Of the Lewis home,
began To work on the case again early
this morning he took charge Of the forty
or fifty ssarchers who presented them
selves. He divided them into small bodies
and assigned TO each party Of from six
70 ten men a section Of the ueighborhood
Kept Lewis with Him.
To William Shelly and John OBrien.
farmers. whose homes are in the vicinity
Of Lewis place. he intrusted the search
~ the Irwin Lewis home MacElree kept
Lewis with him all during the search.
At noon MacElree instructed the search
ers they were all 70 coagregate near
Landenburg As NacElree was talking
to some Of the unsuccessful searchers
Shelly and OBrien dashed I'D al break
neck speed on their horses. They called
the district attorney aside and whispered
70 him that the little girls body had been
found in the yard of the Lewis house.
buried near the barn. MacElree beckoned
TO Lewis, who was standing a few rods
away, and said, The childs body has
been found I'm your yard, Lewis
Lewis turned as pale as death and
nearly fell. The blood went out of his
lips. and the appearance Of his face was
chalk white. Then N1scElree accused him
of the murder and piled him with ques-
tions. but Lewis continued to assert his
innocence.
Mother Faints.
At the Lewis home. where the crime was
committed. a pathetic scene had taken
place When Shelly and O'Brien had re-
ported the finding Of the child's body the
mother. Mrs Irwin Lewis, tainted. and on
regaining consciousness tainted again.
Physicians were summoned. but the
woman became hystericaL My baby
oh. my baby" she walled.
The body was left until the arrival OF
the deputy coroner. The child had been
strangled with a piece of tarred rope
such as farmers use to tie up wheat.
This had been doubly knotted and was
sunk into the flesh Of the little girls
neck when her body was found. over
her head a burlap bag had been drawn.
John Newlin. the Child's grandfather,
and Harry Lewis. the accused mans
father. burst into tears as the little body
was lifted tenderlv from the hole.
Irwin didn't do it." they cried out
simultaneously.
The burlap nag was removed from the
Child's head and the physicians made a
superficial examination. There was a lit
Tie blood on the mouth, but it was not the
mark Of a blow. There was slight tear
in the dress. and an abrasion Of the skin
beneath, but this was caused by the
spade digging. the physicians said.
Had Little Mouth Organ.
The clothing was not disarranged. The
body was lying half on the stomach and
half on the side. The knees were partly
drawn up. The body was twisted, the
face down. the arms fattened out over
her head as in a sleeping posture. Near
the hand was the little mouth organ that
the child had constantly carried with
her. Photographs were taken 0f every
stage of the exhuming Of the body.
More than five years ago. Mrs. Lewis
was employed as a nurse in the Chester
County Asylum for the Insane There
she had met Lawrence Butler. who was
an attendant there They we're to have
been married. but Butler Unexpectedly
disappeared shortly after both he and
Edna NewIin. as she was before her mar
riage. were compelled TO leave the employ
of the hospital. She returned 20 her
fathers home, where her child was born
Butler wrote for her to join him in the
South. but she did not take I'D his offer.
and nothing more has been heard OF the
man. who Is now living in Burnsyille
n c.
Lewis and Edna Newlin had been child
hood sweethearts, and he knew all the
facts Of her life. Five months ago ne
married her and agreed TO care for the
fatherless child. That the presence Of
the little girl was a cause Of irritation 10
the stepfather was the motive for the
murder upon which Mr.. MacElree work
ed. and with these facts he confronted
Lewis. declaring that he despised the
little girl. Lewis protested that he was
fond of her and had long ago forgiven
the woman he married.
Cheap Excursion TO HnrperE Ferry,
MartinsburE, Berkeley Springs and
Cumberland.