The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-29

n at preliminary nearing thlS
N afternoon at Morning Star, be-
fore Justice Griggs, John
Lambeth was ordered held for
the grand Jury OF Princess Anne coun-
ty. on the charge OF mallciously MAIN
ing his child and Elizabeth Hope. of
Sanford, N. c., with whom he has been
living, she passing for his wife, has
been ordered held as q witness for the
State.
When confronted with the evidence
that she was not married to Lambeth
the Hope woman broke down and con-
fessed, unfolding tale OF cruelty ana
inliumanity that SO incensed the people
of the community that feeling ran high.
There were muttered threats heard
against Lambeth, and Commonwealth
Attorney White brought the couple 20
Norfolk for safekeeping. There was
a strong sentiment in favor of dealing
on. summary justice to lambeth
The Womnn's Confession.
According to Elizabeth Hope, Lam
beth came ho.nc at Morning Star sta
ton drunk one night last December.
Entering the house. the woman de-
clared, Lambeth locked Emma Lee. the
little girl, out in the cold when he be-
gan his cruel treatment of her and the
child. She continued:
After turning my child out of doors
into the biting cold, John Lambeth
began quarrelins with me while 1 he'd
our baby. Jimmie. in my arms. lie
became enraged because | would not
do something he wanted me to. with
a bound he sprang upon me and the
baby. With one blow he knocked the
child from my lap into the fireplace
upon bed of Goals. / rushed forward
to rescue my baby when this man
knocked me down.
II got up and, started to pull my child
from the fire. where he was CRYING at
iile top of his little voice; being In
terrible ngonv. when l was again
knocked to the floor. Arising the
before he burned to death. Lambeth
dealt me n stunning blow over the
eye. and I sank to the. floor. helpless.
Slowly getting to my feet once moro,
in an effort to rescue my child. was
again Knocked down. where / lay Tor
a few seconds stunned.
Legs Burned to Crisp.
apparently satisfied that ! was ,in,
conscious, Lambeth fell across the bed
in drunken stupor. I managed to
crawl to the fireplace and lifted the
baby out of the embers. He was un-
conscious.
with bits of cloth and oil 1 bound
up little Jimmie's burned feet and legs
The limbs were burned to crisp for
several inches above the ankle. l was
weak and afraid to do anything, well
knowing that If 7 told of the affair,
Lambeth would kill me-
II did start to go for help. but this
man threatened me with death II l
notified the neiglbors. He finally all
lowed me to open the door and let my
little girl in the house.
II did tell neighbor's wife about
the baby being burned. but was afraid
to tell her the truth. When the neigh
bors came to the house to investigate,
Lambeth told them that he and myself
had left the little one playing on the
floor while we went to the barn, and
when we returned. found Jimmie had
.crawled into the fire."
According to the Hope woman. her
husband has been dead for several
years. She says she and Lambeth
came to Priscess Anne county last
fall from North Carolina. In Green's
boro, N. c. the Hope woman declares.
Lambeth has wife and children. who
left him because of his cruel treat
ment. Her eXcuse for remaining with
Lambeth was that she was afraid to
leave him for fear he would Kill her.
Other witnesses testified that Lam
beth and his, wife were both in the
habit of drinking. A number of the
neighbors testified that lambeth and
the Hope woman We're drinking the
night the child was burned.