Evening star., 1931-12-18
Couple Found Guilty of Abus-
ing Child Face Two
Year Maximum.
STEPM0THER MAY GO
TO PRISON FOR WOMEN
Father, on Stand, Tells Court He
Never Knew Daughter Was
1nhumanly Treated.

Facing a maximum Of two years In
penitentiaries, Mrs. Elsie M. and Harry
N. Riley, convicted yesterday Of mali
ciously' cruel, abusive and inhuman
treatment to 12-year-old Edith Riley.
were IN District Jail today awaiting
sentence.
The stepmother and father Of Edith.
VINO, the Government alleged, was kept
1our years in dark foul closet on the
second floor of the Riley home at lilo
Hnooe Island avenue, were pronounced
gullty late yesterday by Justice F. D.
Let's in Criminal Division 2, District
Supreme Court.
sentence will be handed down next
week by Justice Let's 1t was expected
lnat Riley would be sent to the District
Relormatory at Lorton, Va, while Mrs.
Rlley would go to the Federal institu-
ton for women at Anderson, w. Va.
Both Appear Nervous.
Nervous, but otherwise unaffected. the
couple occupied cells today in different
parts of the huge red stone Jail, Riley
il the mems section and his second
wife in the east wing, reserved for
women.
AS throughout the trial, the Rileys
held their emotions in reserve today. A
slight twitching Of the mouth and a
continuous movement Of the hands
were the only signs shown by Riley
that he had been affected by the YER
dict. Mrs. Riley showed even less the
effects of the trial.
Trial Ends Abruptly.
The trial ended abruptly. Immedi-
ately after defense and prosecuting at
I0rnCVS 0nnn1lNPpl
cases without argument, Justice Let's
announced the guilty verdict.
Action by counsel for the defense
now brings this case to a close" the
court began, and it now becomes the
junction cast upon me to determine the
facts in the case
1t is not my desire to say ANYTHING
that will hurt any one in the case. 1t
Is very unusual case 1 have never
known or heard of anything quite like
II before. l had hoped that human be-
ings could not be guilty of such con-
duct.
But the fact remains - s.idence
herein produced has NOV tkan tbutted
unfortunately, a yourA girl and boy
nad to testify against their father in
TINS case. Very little in contradiction
OF thelr testimony was offered by the
oe1enSe. I must therefore announce
my conclusions in this case now. post
Ponmg sentence until the next sentence
day of this court.
Couple Seems Stunned.
Il find each of these defendants
guilty of the counts of the indictment
and order that they be committed to
the proper authorities"
stunned. Mr.. and Mrs. Riley were
O Irt
they realized the full weight of the
courts decision
The crowds which had packed the
court room during the two-day trial
surged about them ominously and
cordon OF deputy United States mar
shals was thrown around the couple,
Ihey were taken Immediately to a
van and driven to Jail.
only Two witnesses were placed on
the stand by the defense, DR.. Robert L.
Dugan and Riley. Dugan told Justice
Let's, who tried the case in lieu of a
jury. which was waived by the de-
PENDANTS, that Edith was a victim of
harmtui practices, that he had treated
the child and instructed Mrs. Riley as
TO her care. and had recommended she
De placed in a hospital or other insti-
tuition.
The physician said that when he first
saw Edith in 1924 or 1925. she was
abnormal, but l wouldn't say she was
an idiot Several years later, however
When he examined her again. he testi-
ned. he did notice idiotic tendencies
told her parents on several occa-
SlonS that she should be placed in an
institution" said Dr. Dugan. who also
treated Mrs. Riley.
did Won cOroa fa op,,
doctor. as to the mental condition of
Mrs: Riley" asked Defense Attorney H.
n. stephenson, who said in his opening
argument he would prove the woman is
OF ''unsound mind :"
Mrs. Riley Is an extremely nervous
woman. Her condition is that of a woman
under nervous and mental strain.
1 found she needed rest badly and sug-
gested several times that she 20 to a
hospital. I offered even to have her
placed In Gallinger Hospital free of
charge"
Denies Beating Edith.
Riley, who followed the physician on
the stand, testified under direct exami-
nation he had never beaten or abused
Edith or seen her beaten or abused by
any one. He said that because of her
abnormality he did not think it proper
TO expose her to other children" but
denied on cross examination she was
kept in closet, except when Mrs
Riley and I were away from the house"
You heard the testimony, Mr.. Riley,
Of your son, Francis? What have you
to say to that?" Assistant United States
Attorney William H. Collins asked.
Well, I've caught Francis in q few
lies. He's funny that way"
rs there something wrong with him
too?"
Sometimes think there is"
The witness denied he had ever
threatened his elder daughter, Louise,
as she had testified the day before, but
told the court she had stormed and
swore at him. He admitted, however.
that "a little preference" was shown to
Mrs. Riley's son, Billy Webster
Then, as matter Of fact" asked
Collins, your own children have be-
come obnoxious to you, haven't they?"