The Washington herald., 1909-08-04
GIRL PRODUCT OF THE SLUMS
THAT NO INSTITUTION WANTS
Ada Cross Crime-Stained Life.

amt never drowned no baby" Lucy cut
the cord and freed her scissors. Ada.
quick as a fash, did likewise. They few
at each other Ada jabbed her scissors
into Lucy's throat Lucy never came
back 10 Washington. She died few
minutes after the encounter Ada saw
her die. and for the moment gloated IN
the deed
Aren't you sorry you killed herr she
was asked yesterday
''Yaas; Use sorry now" she answered
meekly. Deed. 1 wish Ia died myse' Z"
Il was after she had cut short Lucy
Hawkins career and robbed her Of the
liberty soon 10 be hers that Ada's dun
geon experience set in. The prison au-
little black creature. But instead OF tam
/ ing her. the dungeon almost made a
maniac OF her. and she was all but crazy
when. some two years ago. she was ship
ped 20 81. EHzabeth's.
Moundsville wanted 90 be ria OF her;
did not crave her as a life prisoner, which
would be her sentence II tried for muir
der. She arrived at ST. Elizabeths
shaclIled and. indeed. violent-a violence
produced obviously by the dungeon. The
/ change OF environment Quoted her. After
| lapse OF a few days, the superintendent
/ hsd a talk with her. IJe is rot he-
/ lever In severe restraine except IN ex-
IRENE cases.
Now, Ada" he said. IL you VIII prom
7 Use 10 be @ good girl and help work about
the ward l Will have those things taken
of your wrists"
Ada hated the handouts. She hates
them to-day. SO she promised readily 10
be a good girl Deed l will" she as
sured the doctor. And she kept her
promise. became helpful and obedient.
and was happy and content-untu one
day something got on her nerves and she
smashed the windows and everything else
smashable in sight She would have killed
somebody too, II she had had anything
to kin with Il was not an outbreak Of
manufacturing OF the sort: Il was only
the outburst OF Ada's vicious fiery. and
blOodthirsty temper When 1t was all
over she was meek as a lamb and plead
/ ing earnestly for liberty and promising
again 10 be good. But she was not to be
trusted.
After a little time. convinced beyond
question that she was simply vicious and
depraved ST. Elizabeth sent her back TO
MoundsviIle. She was a criminal. and
belonged there; not insane. and. therefore.
did not belong here That was last year.
The Moundsville authorities thereupon
had her case presented TO the grand jury.
She was charged with the murder OF
Lucy Hawkins. long months ago After
much elaboration. and the hearing Of
expert testimony, and the close question
ms of the girl herself, the grand jury
reached the conclusion that she was
"criminally Insane Ada was prepared. II
indicted. she said yesterday. 10 attempt
to prove that the killing was in self-de-
tense: that II she had not slain Lucy.
Lucy would have slain her; but the grand
jury. doubtless respecting the wishes OF
Moundsville. failed 10 return an indict-
ment.
Ada was shipped back 10 st. Eliza
beth's a few months ago again IN
shackles. She was made worse. she In
sists. during her stay in prison. because
they kept her IN Lucy Hawkins cell.
She was "ha'nted every night" by the
woman, who threw her baby into the
Anaeostla River. Ada Is full OF super
stitiOn. and il IS this superstition doubt
less rather than genuine regret. that
makes her wish that she had died IN
stead OF Lucy.
Crouched IN the corner OF her little
room, she adorns her head with daisies
ard other flowers brought to her by the
| attendants, and reads a little when she
feels like It. scar on the cheek an
other on the right wrist, and stin an
other on the left arm are enduring evil
dences of the scrimmage. with knives in
which she has engaged.
These particular scars were inflicted be-
| fore her tragic encounter with Lucy
Hawkins. In spite of them, she is not
repulsive Of face. She pleads constantly
TO be given her freedom about the ward
| and promises so earnestly to be good.
But she admits that she gets nervous
sometimes. and declares she can't help
II. When one OF these spells attacks he.
she smashes things-windows or crock
sry-f there be any within reach. Her
particular aversion nowadays is a noisy
insane negress In the ward. She gets on
Ada's nerves dreadfully, and Ada avows
that she would go after her in a minute
II she could. But I can't harm nc
body" she added. plaintively "'Deed. ]
never could fight with my hans" So. in
her philosophy. she sees no sense in keep
/ ing the handouts on her. What hurt
could she do If there were no knives in
reach--or scissors?
Apparently, St Elizabeth's must keep
Ada Cross. Moundsville refuses TO harbo-
her, and she is not eligible to enter any
other institution. But she is not crazy
only vicious. depraved, and dangerous;
the possessor Of a temper OF which MUIR
derers are made, and the worst product
Of the negro slums OF the Capital
| - lF-.-. 0.IA.