Evening star., 1931-12-16
Justice Let's Will Rule on
Evidence in "CIoset
Prisoner" Case.
AUNT TESTIFIES EDITH
WAS "A NORMAL CHILD"
Brother Tells of Finding Teeth on
Floor After Sister Was
Beaten.

In surprise move, Mr.. and Mrs
Harry Newman Riley today waived trial
by jury on charges of cruelty to 12-year-
old Edith Riley, alleged closet prisoner"
and elected to be tried by Justice Ed
Let's in District Supreme Court.
Before packed court room the
motion to waive jury trial was offered
by Defense Attorney H. r. Stephenson
thlS morning when Justice Let's con-
Vened court in Criminal Division 2, The
motion was accepted by the Justice
and the case then was outlined to the
court by prosecution and defense
attorneys.
Brother Testifies.
FRANCIS Riley, l5year-old brother of
Edith, upon whose complaint police
entered the Riley home November
and rescued the little child from the
closet, testified that Edith had been
kept IN closet three or four years. and
~ III tlie cei!ar eight months in 1928, dur
ing the visit of Aunt Emma"
He said that his stepmother heat
Edith cruelty with her fists and shoes
and sticks, Il don't remember how
many times, but I know it's been
plenty" eii
My father never laid the weight of
MS nandS on my sister" he said NV
stepmother told him she'd correct the
children. WIG
One time I told my father nv
Itepmother was killing my sister.
Pather pSt said, Il understand Tnen
one time my father protested and she
tolo MIN to get out CT the way. I'm
correcting the children
Found Teeth on Floor.
Once when she was sick thev had
the doctors for her" he said in response
70 question by Assistant United
states District Attorney William n
ColilnS as to the medical care Edith
had received. The boy, who has been
HVlng with his maternal aunt, Mrs.
| Louise M. Hall since Edith was
rescued from the closet, said that
once MS stepmother took some rice
Wnlch the dog had refused and put it
IN pan and gave it to my sister" He
said that after one of the beatines he
went upstairs where Edith was and
iounc several teeth lying on the floor.
| mrs. Hal, who preceded Francis ON
the stand told of Edith being taken
from the home of her grandmother by
court order and committed to the
lather and stepmother During the lat
Ter lour years of Edith's life with the
Fl!eyS, she said. she had not seen the
chud. She testified that before Edith
went to live with the Rileys, however
Eolth was perfectly norma! in everv
way" ee4S
Roomers Never Saw Edith
Two drug store clerks, Lewis Camn-
neIl and Isaac Green Schif1et. who aid
tney roomed at Mrs. Riley's from SEN
temoer to February. 1880. and from
november, 1926, to August. 1927. re-
spectlVeIy followed Francis on the
Stand. Both testified they had never
seen Edlth during their residence at
the Rheys. Campbell said he was laid
up at one time for month with a
olohen leg; put during that time never
saw the child nor heard it.
Mrs. Emma Klein. an aunt of the
Riley children, introduced some surpris-
ing testimony on cross examination.
Alter stating on direct examination she
| had lived in the Riley home for eight
months, from october, 1928, to Nav,
1879, without ever seeing the little girl.
she testified on the ross-questioning
that she was forced to come to the
Riley home to live and that three times
l made efforts to leave but she Mrs.
Riley kept me from going"
You mean to state that you were
forced to live with the Rileys against
you will?' asked Defense Attorney Ste
phepson.
Il couldn't live" Mrs. Klein an
sWered.
How did you come to go to the
Rileys?"
1 was asked by Mrs Riley to come
there to be companion to the
children"
Not Allowed to Leave.
Mrs. Klein insisted she was under
surveillance during the eight months She
lived with the Rileys and was not al
lowed to leave. She said also that when
she came there she brought with her a
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