The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-06-25
CHILD'S BODY FOUND
Mary Eewlin Was Murdered
and Buried in Parents Yard.
STEPFATHER UNDER ARREST
knotted Rope Around Tots Neck
Shows How She Was Strangied TO
peath-"My God. Didn't DO IT." Sobs
Lewis When Charged With Crime.

West Chester. Pa. June % The
body OF little Mary NeWlin was found
buried in the yard of her stepfather's
home. Irwin A. Lewis the stepfather.
Is under arrest accused OF the murder
OF the 5-year-old child.
The child had been strangled 10 death
with piece of tarred rope. such as is
used by farmers in tying 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 hurlap bag had been drawn.
The accused man was compelled 10
stand beside the hole into which he is
accused Of having buried the child.
after her murder but Lewis stood the
ordeal without flinchinE. although he
had completely broken down when
District Attorney MacElree accused
him of the crime.
Near one OF the little girls hands
was her mouth organ This she had
apparently clutchcd tightly In her
hand up To the last and the fact that
Il lay in the grave beside her Is taken
As proof the child was murdered be-
the yard OF his home. or perhaps had
been placed there before She was quite
dead and while she still had strength
to hold her plaything.
When Mr MscElrec. several hours
before. was informed by two members
OF the searching party that the little
girls body had been found. he turned
upon the stepfather and accused him
Of the crime
The mans face grew the color ot
,balk lie tried to control his blood
less lips and finally stammercd out.
NO no. my God, No I didn't DO
u: didn't do it,"
Then Mr. MacElree led tho way 20 n
siump Of trees and confronted the man
"Nou murderer You murderer You
iog." he shouted Why did You
murder that little child@"
In the deathlike stiffness 90 the
country fields the only sound was a
Surglng in Lewis's throat as hc tried
TO speak
Il didn't do il didn't do f." was
all ne could blurt out while rho dis
;rict attorney again and again accused
him Of the murder OF his wif-'s name
less child
Mr MacE,ree from the first scented
murder In the kiJnapp,ug" case
which tho stepfather of tho child had
so earnestly advocated as the cause oi
the little girls disappearance last sun
! day afternoon
In suspe,tinc Lewis OF the murder
| of little Mary. his most Important clew
! had lain tn the facts Of Mrs Lewis s.
past More than Eve years ago size
was employed as a nurse In the Che -
/ ter County Asylum for the Insane.
| There she had met Lawrence Butler.
who was an attendant there. They
We're 10 have been married. but But
Ter Unexpectedly departed for the
! south shortly after both he and Edna
Newlin. as she was before her mar
riage. were compelled 10 leave the en-
| ploy Of :he hospital. She returneed 10
! her fathers home. where the child was
born
Lewis and Edna Newlin had been
childhood Aaethearts and he knew an
the facts of her life. Five months age
he married her and agreed 20 take
care Of the fatherless child
That the presence OF the little girl
was n cause OF irritation 10 the step
father was the motive for murder upon
which Mr.. MacElree worked. and with
these facts he confronted Lewis. de-
claring that he despised the little girl
Lewis protested that he was fond OF
her and had long ago forgiven the
woman he married