The Press., 1907-05-01

questioned by her father she stood the
 ordeal bravely. She said there were
 four children in the Steinson family
 of Brimfield. They were Archibald,
 19; Edith, 21; Grace, 16, and J.
 Howard. 13. She explained in some
 detail how her young brother and she
 had been frightened on March 20 into
 leaving the home and going to Charles
 W. Waldron's, a neighbor, and from
 there to the penthouse, from which
 they escaped several days later. She
 said her mother had left the home
 five days before they went, and the
 older brother and sister had gone, not
 to return, @ week before she and How
 ard ran away. She claimed Edith
 and Archibald had been driven away
 by the actions of their father. She said that on March 20 her father had sworn at her and told her to take off
 her shoes, which he said were too good for her. He also struck her that morning, and soon after had fright ened Howard, who was in the cellar peeling potatoes. Both ran away to their neighbours, MT. Waldron's. On the day they left she declared they
 were poorly clad and without caps She also gave full details as to many actions of her father in both beating and swearing at her and Howard, as we'll as both the older children. She told the court that she and Howard had run away from home three times, once last fall for part of day only, the second time when both went to the house of Mrs. Stone, a neighbor, and stayed several days, and the third and last time on March 20, since which time both had kept away from their father. The torn clothes worn by both children for weeks previous to their last escape were shown the girl and identified by her.
 James Howard Steinson, 13, was placed on the stand soon after noon, and proved to be as good a witness as his sister. The hearing was contin- ued at 2 p. m. The testimony of | people from Brimfield as to MT. Stein- sons actions and words was given at some length. Mrs. Alice Lovelace of | Brimfield said she had worked for | MT. Stone, near neighbor of MT. 5teinson, and had known him for four years, or from the time he and his family moved there from New York pity. She said she had driven the children to school in Mir. Stone's wag. on several times, and noticed especial ly the thin and tattered clothing they wore. She also heard Mir. Steinson | swear at the children number of | times. Mrs. Martha k. Streeter, am other neighbor, of whom MT. Steinson | had bought his farm. corroborated | Mrs. Lovelace's story, and added oth- er facts as to their poor clothing. | Stone also related incidents | showing Steinson's manner of treat ing his children. He also told of having seen the father threaten both ,hildren with pitchfork and heard Jim swear at them. He stated that
 hey had been clothed in calico dur ng winter weather, having no nit ems and going about with their feet ut of their shoes. Charles w. Wal Iron, who tock the children in when hey ran away on March 20, told of what he knew of the Steinson family matters. Charles O. Brown, an over eer of the poor of Brimfleld, said he 7as the man who ordered Waldron to Rke the children from his house to he poorhouse.
 At this point the petitioners case 7as rested, but later Mrs. Rachel ieorge added her story concerning he children's suffering at the hands f their father. Mir. Steinson told
 is story, and then rested at the will the court to May 6, when he prom Jed to have the rest of his witnesses, including his wife, on hand. MT. teinson said he moved from New 'ork city, where he was 8 school sacher, to Rrimfield four years ago, q order that his children might be rought up on farm and given an iucation such as he wished them to ave. He told of buying his house. nd furnishing it in better style than lost of the poole in that vicinity. Ie claimed he had paid $500 year ,r the past several years for the SUD- ort of his wife. The two older chil- rem stopped going to school soon af- : 'r coming to Brimfield, because, he lleged, he had found the school su- ervision there was not what it should ave been. He claimed the real req 'n for the trouble with all the chil- rem was that the mother was too in- ulgent, and he had not paid as much | jtention to them as he should, per- aps. He held that he had always sen kind to them and had furnished lem with suitable clothing, showing 'veral garments he said were the of his daughter Grace. At le conclusion of his tale he asked for