Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-07

whom they made statements. The case
will be presented to the grand jury
Monday, it was announced.
Mrs. Riley, clad in black coat and
hat. sat beside her husband during the
court proceedings. She stared intently
at the boy. Francis, while he was tes-
tifying. When the emaciated girl was
carried into the room, however, she
averted her eyes.
The father, smaller than his wife and
slightly gray, sat quietly throughout the
hearings and made no effort to speak
to his children as he was being led out
of the court room.
Returns to Hospital.
After the hearing Edith was taken
back to Gallinger Hospital where She
spent last night. The night nurses said
"she didn't know how to get in her
crib last night. We had to put her
there"
Her first words this morning after
eating a hearty breakfast were: Give
me another egg-give me two more
eggs"
Francis and his 20-year-old sister will
live at the home of an aunt, Mrs. Lula
Reed, 1414 v street, until the case Is
settled.
Mrs. Riley Denies Charges.
Mrs. Riley in an interview with a
Star reporter, characterized the charges
as untrue.
Mrs. Riley attributed the stories which
resulted in her arrest to malice and
persecution on the part of certain peo-
pie who have resented Mr.. Rtleys three
children living with us since married
him three years ago"
at is all untrue" declared Mrs. Riley,
slender, dark-eyed woman, to a Star
Edith" she continued, "due to her
mental condition, could not be left
alone. She would do all sorts Of dan
gerous things Scars on her forehead
are due to her having knocked her head
against the door to get out, and only
left her in the closet when 1t was neces-
sary for me to leave the house. 1t Is
not true that she was left in the closet
at other times. She slept in the room
with me, and prepared her food and
fed her"
Sleeping In Closet Denied.
AS she was speaking, Mrs. Riley.
accompanied by her husband, well
dressed man, whose face showed deep
lines of worry and concern, led the way
upstairs to a bed room in the rear OF
the house. The room was flooded with
sunshine, and two large double beoS,
not yet made up but showing clean
linen and warm blankets, stood size by
side.
"This is where Edith has slept ever
since I have had her." she explained.
ut is absolutely false that she slept in
the closet and was left there all day
All of this story has been brought about
through malice and persecution on the
part of certain people who have re-
sented Mr. Riley'S three children living
with US since I married him three years
ago"
her lips trembled.
At have always tried to be good to
the children" she continued, but then,
am only a stepmother, and the chill
dren have hated me-"
At this point Mr.. Riley explained that
at tie time Of the death Of his first
wife, IL years ago. his children were
sent to their grandmother.
When I married again" he said, 1T
was necessary for me TO go TO court TO
get legal possession Of my children. /
was afraid to send Edith to an insti-
tuition as I have always 5e = >" y that
a child mentally affected a. 5 would
be put in straight JACKIE; nave her
arms tied I suppose I was long and
should have sent her to an institution
six years ago. In fact, Edith should
have been sent to one when she was
little girl, but was afraid she would
not be treated we'll"
Explains Undernourishment.
The fact OF her undernourished con-
dition was explained by the child's step
mother as due to her inability to retain
food. THE minute I would give her
food" said Mrs. Riley, "she would put
her finger in her throat and throw 1t
up. Edith was given plenty OF food,
and I always fed her myself in this
bed room"
I'VE never took her outside" she con-
tinued, "as she was too badly behaved
and we were afraid to risk it. She was
a hard child to manage and frequently
would bite me when I tried to battle and
dress her. At one time I got blood
poisoning from bite on the finger"
Did you ever give the child play
things? the mother was asked:
Eyes, oftentimes," she replied, but
she would smash them the minute they
were given to her"
AS to the dangerous dog" which was
reported to have kept watch outside
EdithS closet door, Mrs. Riley laughed.
II will show you the dog" she added.
In the dining room downstairs was
harmless half-breed deg.
Rachel, a colored servant In the
kitchen, declared the dog had been in
the kitchen when the police had come
to the house in Mrs. Riley's absence.
Rachel added that Edith had never
been in the kitchen.
Closet Commodious.
From the bed room, Mrs Riley led
he - AtSSSVI
also flooded with sunshine. At one
end of the bath room was located the
closet, unusually commodious perhaps
four by five in proportion, which was
reported to have been Ediths place OF
incarceration for four years.
Il merely put her in here while l
went down the street to do some shop
ping" she explained. 1T was while l
was out of the house that the police
came to get her"
"Once when the other children were
sleeping" said the mother. land was
out of the house, Edith, who was sup
posed to be in bed. got up and turned
all the gas on. The house was nlIeo
with gas when returned"
1T is not true that Edith was COW
cred with bruises" declared Mrs Riley
Il am the one who has been covered
with bruises, from where the two older
children have beaten me.
IT'S been very hard" she sighed.
Then, rather proudly, she remarked,
why, not even the neighbors knew
I was stepmother to the children. i
have gone without clothes I needed to
give them clothes and have done all
could to make them happy"
1t also was learned today in the once
Of school attendance and work permits
at the Franklin Administration Building
Edith's case has been in the hands OF