KinSource - Tale of the Week - Child Is Beaten To The Point Of Death

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Globe, February 13, 1903, p. 10

CHILD IS BEATEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH

Six Year-Old Girl Is Rescued From Dreadful Brutality by Humane Officers - Dr. Wirth Says the State of the Little One Appalled.

Frederick Adams, a farmer, living with his third wife on a small farm on the Sunfish road, two miles out of West St. Paul, is charged by the state humane society with having treated his six-year-old daughter in a most cruel and inhuman manner. As a result of the investigation made by the society, the child has been taken from the father and placed in the custody of its aunt, Mrs. Wilhelma Pultzin, who also lives on the Sunfish road just outside the limits of the city.

The child was recently brought to Dr. Wirth in this city for treatment, the aunt telling the physician that the father had beaten the child in a terrible manner. Dr. Wirth discovered the child to be covered with black and blue marks, scarcely a spot on its little body being free from the marks of violence. The little girl's head was swollen and her arms and body were badly bruised. Dr. Wirth cared for the child and called the attention of the humane society to the case. In the meantime the aunt kept possession of the child.

Rufus Hoyt, of the state humane society, and John Monk, of the city society, have both investigated the case and declare it to be one of the worst called to their attention in years.

The child, it seems, is a stepdaughter of Adams' present wife and according to the story told by Mrs. Pultzin, the aunt, has been subjected to indescribably cruel treatment. The father is charged with having treated the little one in a most brutal manner, the step-mother raising no objections. Two weeks ago Mrs. Pultzin, who is a sister of the child's mother, went to the Adams home and secured possession of the child, which she brought to Dr. Wirth for treatment. Since the marriage of Adams to his present wife, says Mrs. Pultzin, the child has been badly treated.

Officer John Moak, of the St. Paul Humane society, who investigated the case before it was placed in charge of the state society, says:

"It appears that the father beat the child in a terrible manner and the step-mother seemed to approve of this brutal treatment. As a result of the blows received from its father, the girl was covered with black and blue marks and its little head was so badly swollen that Dr. Wirth feared it might not recover. Had the case not been taken out of our hands by the state society I should have caused the arrest of the father."

Whether or not the state society will cause the arrest of Adams could not be learned yesterday, but the child will be in the custody of its aunt until some action is taken.

"The condition in which the little girl was brought to me is a shame," said Dr. Wirth, "and if the father is responsible for it he should be arrested and severly punished. It was one of the worst cases with which I ever had anything to do."