Daily National Democrat

Unnatural Parents.

Some two weeks since, a good deal of excitement was caused at Columbia, Tuolumne county, on account of an attempt made by the parents of a girl aged about 13 years, to force her to marry an old reprobate named Richards, whose age is over fifty. The Columbia Times says:

"Since then, the unnatural parents of the girl with the view of inveigling her into their power, wrote to her, informing her that her mother was in a dying condition, and wished to see her before she died. The poor child went immediately to Jamestown—a distance of seven miles. Arrived at the house of her parents, she was horrified to find them carousing and drinking with the old villain, whom she hated, but whom her parents wished her to marry. The girl was told that the only reason they had sent for her, was to compel her to marry the old man. She resolutely refused to do so; they tried coaxing, promises, and gifts, to induce her, but to no effect. Finding the child could not be influenced by such means they gave her an unmerciful beating, blacking one of her eyes and inflicting bruises on her head and other parts of her person."

The Times adds that a gentleman of Jamestown, being informed of the circumstances brought the unfortunate child back to Columbia where she is well taken care of.