Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
August 25, 1899
The Providence News
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
In Torringford, Conn., Humane Society agents rescue 16-year-old Mary Couran from starvation and paralysis in her parents' attic after two years of concealment. Neighbors unaware; girl moved to incurables home, parents to be prosecuted for cruelty. (187 chars)
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
DIED
OF STARVATION.
Sixteen-Year-Old Girl Shrunken to Living Skeleton.
FOUND IN A FILTHY ATTIC.
Limbs Like Broomsticks, Hair is Partly Gray, and She is Paralyzed.
SHE BEGGED PITEOUSLY FOR FOOD
The Sufferer Has Been Removed to Hospital for Incurables and Her Parents Will Be Prosecuted for Their Cruel Treatment.
Winsted, Conn., Aug. 25.—Agents of the Connecticut Humane society discovered yesterday in the attic of a farm house in Torringford a 16-year-old girl in filth and rags, who seemed to be dying of starvation. Agent John F. Simmons was notified a few days ago that Thomas Couran and his wife had for two years been secreting their daughter Mary in the attic of their home, and that she was in a terrible plight from neglect.
He drove to the Couran home yesterday and demanded of her parents to see Mary. They denied that such a person lived there. Simmons insisted that he knew better, and demanded to be taken to her hiding place. Couran thereupon led the agent up a filthy stairway to the attic, where, upon an improvised bed, without covering of any kind, was the living skeleton of the girl they sought. Her legs and arms were the size of broom handles, and the skin seemed to cling to the bones. Her legs were paralyzed. There were ulcers all over the body. Her hair was white in spots. She was devoid of strength and wandered in her mind. When she saw Agent Simmons she pleaded for something to eat. When asked if she had sufficient food, the girl rolled her eyes in the direction of her father and then whispered piteously: "No."
The neighbors of the Courans, it is alleged, did not know that the girl was confined in the house. They had not seen her for months, and understood that she was with distant relatives.
Couran and his wife own the farm on which they live. There are five children. Two of them, older than Mary, work for neighbors and two younger ones live at home.
Simmons reported the case to Chandler E. Miller, secretary of the Humane society who visited the house yesterday with Prosecuting Attorney Bierce. They concluded to remove the human wreck to the state home for incurables and to prosecute the parents. The reason for the Courans treatment of their daughter could not be learned.
OF STARVATION.
Sixteen-Year-Old Girl Shrunken to Living Skeleton.
FOUND IN A FILTHY ATTIC.
Limbs Like Broomsticks, Hair is Partly Gray, and She is Paralyzed.
SHE BEGGED PITEOUSLY FOR FOOD
The Sufferer Has Been Removed to Hospital for Incurables and Her Parents Will Be Prosecuted for Their Cruel Treatment.
Winsted, Conn., Aug. 25.—Agents of the Connecticut Humane society discovered yesterday in the attic of a farm house in Torringford a 16-year-old girl in filth and rags, who seemed to be dying of starvation. Agent John F. Simmons was notified a few days ago that Thomas Couran and his wife had for two years been secreting their daughter Mary in the attic of their home, and that she was in a terrible plight from neglect.
He drove to the Couran home yesterday and demanded of her parents to see Mary. They denied that such a person lived there. Simmons insisted that he knew better, and demanded to be taken to her hiding place. Couran thereupon led the agent up a filthy stairway to the attic, where, upon an improvised bed, without covering of any kind, was the living skeleton of the girl they sought. Her legs and arms were the size of broom handles, and the skin seemed to cling to the bones. Her legs were paralyzed. There were ulcers all over the body. Her hair was white in spots. She was devoid of strength and wandered in her mind. When she saw Agent Simmons she pleaded for something to eat. When asked if she had sufficient food, the girl rolled her eyes in the direction of her father and then whispered piteously: "No."
The neighbors of the Courans, it is alleged, did not know that the girl was confined in the house. They had not seen her for months, and understood that she was with distant relatives.
Couran and his wife own the farm on which they live. There are five children. Two of them, older than Mary, work for neighbors and two younger ones live at home.
Simmons reported the case to Chandler E. Miller, secretary of the Humane society who visited the house yesterday with Prosecuting Attorney Bierce. They concluded to remove the human wreck to the state home for incurables and to prosecute the parents. The reason for the Courans treatment of their daughter could not be learned.
What sub-type of article is it?
Family Drama
Tragedy
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Family
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Child Starvation
Family Neglect
Humane Society Intervention
Parental Prosecution
What entities or persons were involved?
Mary Couran
Thomas Couran
Mrs. Couran
John F. Simmons
Chandler E. Miller
Prosecuting Attorney Bierce
Where did it happen?
Torringford Farm House Near Winsted, Conn.
Story Details
Key Persons
Mary Couran
Thomas Couran
Mrs. Couran
John F. Simmons
Chandler E. Miller
Prosecuting Attorney Bierce
Location
Torringford Farm House Near Winsted, Conn.
Event Date
Aug. 25
Story Details
Agents of the Connecticut Humane Society discover 16-year-old Mary Couran starving and paralyzed in the filthy attic of her parents' farm home after two years of neglect. She begs for food; parents deny her existence initially. She is removed to a hospital for incurables, and parents face prosecution.