The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-24
GOES TO PRISON.
A Very Rich Woman Convicted OF
Having Cruelty
TORTURED TO Death

Old Maid Servant, Whose Mother In
Open Court, While Aneeling Al
most at the Feet of the Rich Muir
derer, just Before She Was Con-
victed, Prayed That God Would
Forgive Her For The Crime
In the Criminal Court Of Flandreau'
S. 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 intiu-
ence Of any kind.
The charge and the testimony show
ed that the rich woman had nenolsh-
" tortured to death the only oaugn-
er Of the poor woman.
The naughty face Of the rlcn wo-
man indicated her belief that no Jury
wo11ld dare convict the wife Of her
influential millionaire husband. The
poor woman, broken with grlei, look
cd 6azed. 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. It 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 ano
body collapsed, and it was found nee:
essary to take the mother OF deac
Agnes Polreis back to her wretchec
little home in the country near Park
ston, S. D., whence Agnes had come
two years before, to be beaten tt
death--so it is charged--b her rlct
mistress, Mrs. Emma Kaufman
wife of Moses Kaufman, the mil
lionaire brewer Of Sioux Falls, 5. D
The story of this instance OF al
most incredible cruelty practlsed up
on a maid servant by her mistres
was printed in these pages a yea
ago. Agnes Polreis, pretty girl o:
sixteen, was hurriedly sent iron
Mrs. Kaufmann's house to a Slou,
Falls hospital where, next day. SIT
died. Mrs. Kaufman was arrested
on the testimony Of other servant
that sic had Systematically tortured
and virtually beaten the girl t
death.
Of course the rich woman was ad
mitted to bail. In answer to tn
statements of the accusing servant
who said that the woman hao 2:
ungovernable temper and that the,
were often compelled to fee to tn
cellar from her dangerous wrath
was explained that Mrs. Kaufman,
mind has been affected by the deaf
of her daughter several years age
The sight Of any other girl--especl
ally fresh one, like Agnes Polreis--
made her frantic.
So strong was public sentimen
against Mrs. Kaufman in Sioux Fail
that her attorneys obtained chang
of venue for her trial to Flandreu
The news that she had been admit
ed to bail caused such mob to gath
er at the Jail that she was smuggle'
out of a back door to her. nome
where she had to have police protec
ton.
Mr.. Kaufmann's wealth had pre-
cured the best legal talent in tn
West for his wife's defence. Sever
al medical experts were placed o.
the witness stand. To them was pu
the following Hypothetical ques
tons which catalogue the wound
found upon the body Of Agnes Poi
reis after her death:
Assume the following facts: Z
natient sixteen years old is in yer,
emaciated condition. She has sore
having the appearance Of cut abou
one and one-half to two inches Ions
transversely across the point Of the
left shoulder; she has sore having
the appearance Of cut transversely
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
iointed, with the bone protruding;
the cutie is off the ends of the fn-
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 cutlcle is off from
the toes and the rest Of the foot; the
right foot is in practically the same
condition.
'such being thefacts state wheth-
er or not, in your opinion, such con-
ditions would be due to externel vio-
lence or disease and its results.
DR.. Spaford-In my opinion to
violence.
DR.. Rider--In my opinion to dis
ease and it's 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-infiicted?"