The Mary Ellen Wilson Child Abuse Case and the Beginning of Children's Rights in 19th Century AmericaAs recently as 1874, no laws yet existed in the United States for the protection of children. That year, the widely publicized case of Mary Ellen Wilson - a nine-year-old girl who had been a prisoner in her tenement home, enduring unimaginable cruelty - drew national attention to child abuse and to the notion that children are entitlted to humane treatment. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) founder Henry Bergh and his attorney, Elbridge T. Gerry, intervened on behalf of the abused little girl. This examination of the case begins with a look at Mary Ellen Wilson's life and the events surrounding the case. It draws upon, and reproduces, numerous primary sources. Mary Ellen's famous court testimony, queries urging Henry Bergh's ASPCA to continue work on behalf of children, articles describing the courtroom scene, pleas from Mary Ellen's family appealing for her custody and published documentation of the trial itself are all offered here for the first time. |
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Inhalt
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
| 7 | |
| 11 | |
| 20 | |
| 28 | |
| 52 | |
| 69 | |
Berghs Petition and Judge Lawrences Response | 112 |
Testimony of Mary Connolly | 115 |
Testimony of Alonzo S Evans | 131 |
Testimony of Christian B McDougal | 137 |
Testimonies of Thomas Dusenbury Charlotte Fiehling and Catherine Kemp | 141 |
Testimonies of Mary Studer Margaret Bingham | 148 |
Testimony of George Kellock | 170 |
Where to Put the Child? | 187 |
| 77 | |
| 87 | |
| 94 | |
Family Letters and Affidavits | 102 |
Sheet Music for Songs About Mary Ellen | 225 |
Bibliography | 241 |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
abuse aforesaid American animals appeared asked beat body brought called called Mary Ellen cause charge Charities child City clothing condition cruelty custody daughter died door dress Elbridge Etta face Fanny father feloniously further gave Gerry give hand head hear heard Henry Bergh horse human husband Justice known letter little girl lived locked look marks married Mary Connolly Mary Ellen Mary Ellen Wilson matter months morning mother never once parents person Police poor Prevention Prevention of Cruelty produced protection received rescue reside scissors Score seen sent side signed Society sometimes story Street Supreme Court sworn taken tell testified testimony thing Thomas told took weeks Wheeler whip wife Wilson witness woman York
Beliebte Passagen
Seite 113 - ... that the same is true of his own knowledge, except as to the matters therein stated on information and belief, and as to those matters he believes it to be true.
Seite 33 - Where it appears, by proof satisfactory to a court or judge, authorized to grant either writ, that a person is held in unlawful confinement or custody, and that there is good reason to believe that he will be carried out of the State, or suffer...
Seite 193 - The child is an animal,' he said, 'if there is no justice for it as a human being, it shall at least have the rights of the stray cur in the street. It shall not be abused.
Seite 120 - And for the true performance of all and singular the covenants and agreements aforesaid, the said parties bind themselves, each unto the other, firmly by these presents.
Seite 68 - Connolly) has been in the habit of whipping and beating me almost every day. She used to whip me with a twisted whip — a raw hide. The whip always left a black and blue mark on my body. I have now the black and blue marks on my head which were made by mamma, and also a cut on the left side of my forehead which was made by a pair of scissors.
Seite 193 - Finally, in despair, and with the piteous appeals of the dying woman still ringing in her ears, she said, " I will make one more effort to save this child. There is one man in this city who has never turned a deaf ear to the cry of the helpless, and who has spent his life in just this work for the benefit of unoffending animals. I will go to Henry Bergh.
Seite 120 - Blacksmith, to learn his art, trade and mystery, and after the manner of an apprentice to serve him from the day of the date hereof, for and during the full end and term of four vears and two months, next ensuing.
Seite 78 - ... indenture" of the child, Mary Ellen Wilson, aged one year and six months, to Thomas McCormack, butcher, and his wife, Mary, in February, 1866, and whereby they undertook to report once a year the condition of the child to the Commissioners of Charities and Correction. This indenture was indorsed by Commissioner Isaac Bell and Secretary Brown. Witness continued as follows: I know this was one of my husband's illegitimate children. He selected this one. The mother's name, I suppose, is Wilson,...
Seite 96 - Connolly's, and to the instances of ill-treatment which had come to their knowledge. After an able argument from District Attorney Rollins and a charge of characteristics clearness from the Recorder, the jury retired, and after twenty minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty of assault and battery. Recorder Hackett, addressing the prisoner, said that he had no doubt whatever of her guilt. She had been accorded every opportunity to prove her innocence, and the court was fully satisfied that...
Seite 35 - ... control his evil passions. The results and his reward are already proportionate to his labors, for the legislatures of thirty-three States have decided that dumb animals have rights that masters must respect ; and the Court of Errors, the highest tribunal in the Empire State, has recently confirmed the equity and constitutionality of the cruelty laws. Thirteen years of devoted labor have wrought no very great change in the appearance and manner of Henry Bergh. If the lines of his careworn face...
Verweise auf dieses Buch
Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology for Criminal and Civil Cases Harold V. Hall Eingeschränkte Leseprobe - 2007 |
Bibliografische Informationen
| Titel | The Mary Ellen Wilson Child Abuse Case and the Beginning of Children's Rights in 19th Century America |
| Autoren | Eric A. Shelman, Stephen Lazoritz |
| Ausgabe | illustriert |
| Verlag | McFarland, 2005 |
| ISBN | 0786420391, 9780786420391 |
| Länge | 247 Seiten |
| Zitat exportieren | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |