The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-15
MRS, MCDONNELL SAYS
SHE HATED DAUGHTER
Mother Gives That as Excuse for As.
sault on Observation-Disclosures
Visit the Cause.

Visit the Cause.
jamestown, N. D., May 13.--Etta
Mcdonnell was killed by her mother
and father because she had told her
father that neighbor called on her
mother, and that once, when she, Eta,
came into the house, she found this
neighbor holding her mother in his
lap.
Back of the terrible scene that was
enacted in the Mcdonnell home near
Courtenay on March "a, last, when
Eta was kicked by her father and
beaten till she was unconscious by her
mother, was hatred for the child
that the mother developed because of
her story of the neighbor's alleged
visit.
That hatred was given by Mrs. Nc
Donnell as the cause of her action in
beating the child, when she n9ated to
States Attorney John Carr the whole
sordid details of the scene that ended
in the girls death.
Confirmed First Story.
Mrs. Mcdonnell told the story Of
the. child's death to Mr.. Carr after she
had called the prosecutor to the jail,
several days after she and her hus-
band had been arrested charged with
killing the child.
Mrs. Mcdonnell said that she had de-
cided that it was we'll for her to tell
the whole story of what had happen
ed, and. she proceeded Immediately to
detailed account of the affair. It
corresponded in detail with the story
that she told the night she was brot
to jamestown, when she made her
first confession. That confession was
repudiated the day following, but a
few days thereafter the woman con-
firmed her first statement. Mr.. Carr
kept the second confession secret.
Father Kicks the Girl.
According to the woman's story,
which covers abount Is pages, ans
which was signed in the presence of
witnesses, Mcdonnell first assailed
the child on the mornig of her death.
Eta was lying on an improvised bed
on the floor and the father kicked her
brutally three or four times. s
Mrs. Mcdonnell said she dressed
herself. and then took board from
the end Of an apple barrel and began
beating the child. The board split,
she Tsaid,s and then she took up one
part Of the broken board and continued
with the punishment of the girl. Y
sThe child. unconscious as a result
Of the terrific beating, lay in stupor
for SOME time, and when she revived
She attempted to get out of the house.
She was again beaten, and didn't re-
cover consciousness again during the
day.rAThat afternoon, about eight
hours after the parents had made their
initial assault upon her, the girl died.
Mcdonnell Informed.
About 10 days ago States Attorney
Carr informed Mcdonnell that the
wife had related the story of the
child's death. He still maintained in
nocence. but last Saturday morning
called States Attorney Carr to the
Jail, and said he was ready to plead
guilty. Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdonnell were
taken to the district court about 4
o'clock Saturday afternoon, and Mon
day morning they began serving their
ouarter-century sentence for second
degree murder.
Processes ,lntefeSt in Children.
Mrs. Mcdonnell, during the last few
weeks, has professed interest in the
welfare Of her sin children who are
being cared for in Fargo. and seemed
desirous that they should have good
home.
A sister of.Mrs. Mcdonnell has evil
denced her desire to take care Of the
children sad they will probably be
committed to her care.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdonnell have
professed sorrow at the affair that
ended in Etta's death, but the mother
always asserts that she had come to
hate the child because of the stories
Eta had told her father, and that that
hatred really was responsible for the
tragedy.
Assigned to Duties.
In the prison at Bismarck .yester-
day, Mcdonnell was assigned to job
in the engine room, shoveling coal.
while Mrs. Mcdonnell was assigned
to sewing. The couple was taken to
Bismarck by Seaman A. Smith, former
sheriff Of Golden Valley county, acting
state transportation officer.