The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-26
CHk8dES FATHER
CRUELTY BEAT HER

RIG HIM q Nd, VA.-Special.-
Scarcely realizing the nature OF the
testimony she WAS giving. sixteen
year-old Oracle WiSinton, OF SIT
North Twenty-third Street, appeared
before Justice Crutchheld this morn
ing and declared that her father had
beaten her until she had to leave the
house. Blood had run down her arms
from the cuts and bruises, she said.
until, the neighbors had taken COM
passion on her.
The case on trial was not that OF
the girls father. J. w. wiginton, but
that of Miss Maggie Dixon, the girls
aunt, who was charged by Wiginton
with harboring his daughter and re-
fusing TO surrender her to him.
But when the girl left the stand and
en other witnesses corroborated her
tements, Justice Crutchfeld was
u indignant at what he termed bar
barism and barbaric treatment" that
he halted the trial and almost shouted
to the desk sergeant:
Issue a bench warrant for that
mani Issue ii this minutei Now
give it to me and let me sign it,"
With a trembling hand the justice
affixed his signature to the paper.
This is the most barbaric case
have ever known" he declared. Wit
ness after witness has testified that
the girl is a good girl and weil-be-
haved, and yet this man beat her un-
til the blood trickled down her arms.
No wonder she had TO leave home.
Miss Dixon was right to take care OF
her. She was right in refusing TO sur
render her to her barbaric father. She
performed an act of Gods mercy. and
1 thank her for it. OF course. l d >
miss the charge that Wiginton has
brought against her. 1t is outra-
geous."
Try Wiginton Friday.
Wiginton will be tried Friday morn
ing. Justice Crutchfield was anxious
to go into the case this morning and
hear him explain why he beat his
daughter. but the man declared that
he would like to summon half dozen
witnesses and could not reach them
until later in the week.
According to the testimony given
before Justice Crutchheld the girls
mother died sometime ago and Wigin-
ton, who lives at 5000 North Thirtieth
Street, married again. Shortly after
wards. it was alleged, the man began
| TO be cruel to tie girl.
Last September-Septemb goth. to
be exact-the girl left her room be-
fore she had finished dressing to get
glass OF water. Her father, accord
| ing to her testimony, met her in the
hall, and, Selling a heavy strap, beat
| her on the neck, arms and shoulders
until the upper part of her body was
covered with blood.
Wiginton then, according to the
statement. dragged the girl from the
house TO the porch and continued to
beat her.
Mrs. Ella Eudailey. a near neigh
Dor, declared that she saw Wiginton
dragging the girl about the porch
! beating her. She swore that she saw
streams of blood trickling down the
girls shoulders and arms.
Getting away from her father the
girl fed from the house and went
TO the home of her aunt, Miss Dixon,
vn Thirtieth Street, where she is now
! living.
Wiginton ordered her to return
home. She refused, but being un-
willing to be a burden OF Miss Dixon.
she found work to do, for which she
receives about $40 n month
| Wiginton then demanded that Miss
Dixon send her from the house and
refuse her admittance. Miss Dixon
replied that her home was the girl S
home and that she could live there
as long as she liked.
The man swore out warrant
against Miss Dixon charging her with
"harboring" his daughter and refus-
/ ing to surrender" her to her father.
According TO Justice Crutchfield's
ruling the girl can remain at the
Dixon home and never return home.
/ Meanwhile the justice advised Wigin-
ton that he would have to make out
a pretty good case to escape severe
! punishment for his alleged cruelty.