Evening star., 1931-12-16
R|[EYS WAIVE Jury
IN "CL0SET" CASE
Justice Let's Will Rule on
Evidence on Charge of
Cruelty to Child.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
wagon load of furniture, which Mrs.
Riley took from her with promise
to pay for it later.
Il never got any money, though" >"
abe said
When you went down into the
basement while you lived with the
Eileys did you see or hear any child?"
asked Attorney Stephenson.
NO." she replied.
After Mrs. Margaret c. Allen of 322
E street southwest, a colored dress
maker to the Annadales, had testified
that Edith was perfect child" while
living with the Annadales, Rachel
johnson, colored, who did washing and
ironing for the Rileys was called to
the stand. After preliminary question
ing Assistant United States Attorney
Collins asked:
Laundress Never Saw Child.
While you were working for the
Rlleys did you ever see the child Edith,
that is, before police took her from the
closet?"
Testifying as to the police entrance
In the Riley home November to seize
the child, Rachel said:
They went right straight to the
kitchen and upstairs through Mrs.
Rlleys room to the bath room Then
they unlocked the door Edith was
just sitting right still, staring straight
ahead and not batting an eye. There
was comfort in the room and she
was sitting on it with a pint bottle
and pan beside her"
Was there any smell or odor in
the closet?" Collins asked
Yes, little bit of an odor," the
colored woman replied.
Collins Opens Trial.
Assistant United States Attorney
Collins, opening the trial of the
father and stepmother of Edith, who
is now at Gallinger Hospital under
treatment from the effects of alleged
confinement in the bath room closet
of the Riley home at lilo Rhode Island
avenue. declared the Government would
present evidence to show that this
beatingS with shoes, sticks and other
instruments of torture during her in
generation"
The evidence will show" he said
"that Edith was perfectly normal
child at the time she was delivered into
the custody of her father after he
married a second time. 1t will show
that in the last four years she has
lived with her father and stepmother,
the defendants in this case, she has
been kept in state of incarceration
allowed no contact with the outside
world and denied the right of educa-
ton.
Incarcerated in Closet.
The evidence will show that she was
mcarcerated for period in bed room
and following that was, for a period
of time, incarcerated in a dark cellar
closet. Then. later she was kept in
closed closet upstairs, incarcerated day
and night. The evidence will show
that she was fed like an animal, her
meals consisting of scrapings of food
left over from the meals of others:
that she was denied the privileges
Of toilet.
The Government will also show that
during the years of her life with her
father and stepmother Mrs Riley kept
roomers in her home, some of them liv-
ing there for period of two and three
years, and that during this entire
period these roomers and boarders
never knew of the existence of Edith
Riley. The evidence will show also
That the sister of Edith, Louise over
q period of three years only saw her
little sister Edith once
Hands and Feet Tied.
The Government will show also that
during this child's incarceration in a
closet she lay for long periods of time
with her hands and feet tied"
Stephenson, who followed Collins. de-
clared the child Edith was given to
certain vicious practices" and that ito
relieve this condition, at the advice of
physicians, an operation was performed.
The evidence that the defense will
introduce" said Stephenson. will show
that it was impossible to take this child
out because of these practices. 1t was
also impossible because of this condi-
ton to allow her to associate with
other children in the house. We will
show you that she was physically and
mentally defective"
Incarceration Denied.
=. Stephenson said he would show also
that Mrs Riley was not mentally re-
sporsible
The attorney denied the child was in
carcerated in dark cellar closet and
told the court he expected to show
that the bed room" where the child
was kept did have air, light and venti-
lation"
We will introduce evidence to show
that the child was not kept in closet
Tor long periods of time. We will show
that Mrs. Riley has been in a state of
very bad health and there have been
times when the Rileys did not have
means with which to feed, clothe or
care for their family. But, despite their
stralteneu circumstances, which at
times have necessitated their calling
upon charity organizations for food
with which to feed their family the
Rileys have not abused their child
Edith" ''i''0
The first witness, Mrs. Anna A, An
nadale, maternal grandmother of Edith
VINO lives at 14l4 V street, Identified
photographs of the child taken while
she nVed with her. before Riley mar
rled his present wife. These pictures
were introduced by Collins,
Prior to Ediths leaving YOUR home
TO go and live with her father and stem
mother, will you state whether or not
sne showed any evidences of being
other tAan normal child?" Collins
asked -'
Nothing at ALL" the grandmother
replied.