New-York tribune., 1918-05-09
{ arents Branded
2 Children Who
"Stole'' Sweets
Mrs. Strang Convicted and
Her Husband Admits
His Guilt
By BRIGGS

Mrs. Jennie Strang, of West New
Brighton: Staten Island, was found
guilty yesterday in Special Sessions
of branding her eleven-year-old step
son, Raymond Strang, because he
"stole" jam from the pantry. Mrs.
Strang's husband, Charles, a superin-
tendent in a shipbuilding yard, pleaded
guilty Of similar offence against his
daughter, Elizabeth, nine years old.
Elizabeth had "stolen" candy from a
box that he brought home.
few minutes after the case against
husband and wife had been disposed of.
Mrs. Strang's brother Henry A. Mu-
tart, also of West New Brighton, was
arrested as he rose to leave the court
room. He had come, it is said, as
witness for her sister and her husband,
but had not been called. His fifteen
year-old daughter Emma, whose mys-
terious disappearance on the eve of
the trial led to grand jury inquiry
and John Doe indictment charging
abduction, is said to be concerned in
the charge against him. The arrest
was made on warrant issued at Fort
Edward, n. Y.
Girls Evidence Not Needed
=. Emma Mutart's testimony in the
Strang case proved unnecessary. The
principal witnesses against Mrs.
Strang were her mother, Mrs. Bertha
White, of Syracuse, N. Y; Elizabeth,
the defendants sstepdaughter, and
Raymond, himself. Neither of the
children betrayed any nervousness. nor
did either of them appear to think
that branding with hot iron was an
extraordinary penalty for jam steal
ing. The branding took place on
To show how v. atepmother had
burned his hand. P'.ymond seized his
sisters wrist anu thrust her hand
down flat upon table in the court.
room.
:, Then she took a poker" he said,
,,and, after heating it in the fire,
burned my hand and face. 1t was be,
cause | had taken some jelly."
The boy said that his grandmother
was IN the room, but did not interfere.
When his father came in, he said. he
told him about the punishment and
his father told him he had better put
some iodine on the burns.
Sister Saw Branding
Raymond was crying" his sister
Elizabeth testified M saw NV stem
mother take lid off the stove and
heat poker for about three minutes.
lhen she put it on Raymond's hand
ana face and then placed his hand on
the stove. My grandmother was in the
room. Raymond was crying"
MRS. White testified to seeing her
daughter drag Raymond to the stove
and thrust his hand against its top
surface. She did not Interfere. she
SAID, because she had no idea that the
stove was really hot, but thought that
Mrs. Strang simply wanted to scare the
boy. She put cold cream on his burns
later.
John Strang, Raymond's Twenty-Five
year-old brother, who was upstairs.
sick in bed, when the punishment was
inflicted upon Raymond, testified to
hearing the outburst of cries and
shrieks. When Mrs. Strang came up
stairs, he said, he asked her what had
caused it. She replied, he asserted:
II fixed him for stealing jelly;
wanted to burn his tongue also.'
Couple Held Without Bail
After the prosecution had rested the
CtltHCc duHOUHCcu IildI IL WOulQ call
no witnesses, and the judgment was
made known. Before accepting Strang's
plea of guilty Justices Murphy, Nc
Inerny and Herman had Elizabeth tell
how her father had pressed her hands
against hot stove when he discovered
that she had been at some candy that
he had brought home. Mr.. and Mrs.
Strang were remanded until Nav Is
for sentence, bail being refused be-
cause of the sudden vanishing of Mrs.
Strang before dawn yesterday morn
ing.
When her husband reported her dis.
appearance searchers were sent out.
She was finally found wandering. par.
TALLY clothed, near Tipperary Corners.
five, miles from her home. Her hus,.
band said that he believed WORRY over
the case was responsible.