If you know of a child who is being abused
and
is in need of a lawyer, please contact:
"Lawyers
For Children America"
Our Mission - Lawyers for Children America is a
lead child advocacy organization protecting the rights of children who
are victims of abuse; abandonment and neglect by providing quality pro
bono legal representation and collaborating for systematic change to improve
the lives of children. Lawyers for Children America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization.
Mary Ellen Wilson
Mary Ellen Wilson before her
ordeal ended and after.
In September of 1874 a New
York city charity worker, Mrs. Etta Angell Wheeler, heard about the abuse
of a ten year old little girl name Mary Ellen Wilson. Mary Ellen's
father had died at war and her mother had placed her in temporary care
of a baby sitter.
Mary Ellen's mother did not
return for several months and was not providing any support for her.
Then one day she showed up drunk and newly married wanting to take Mary
Ellen home. The baby sitter could see that this new marriage had
changed Mary Ellen's mother and didn't want to put Mary Ellen back with
her so she told her that Mary Ellen had died. Later, she could no longer
care for Mary Ellen so she took her to an orphanage claiming her mother
had abandoned her.
Mary Ellen was later adopted
by a man who had lost all of his own children to
illness. He told his
wife that Mary Ellen was his illegitimate daughter. His wife agreed
to accept Mary Ellen but hated her every day she knew her.
Mary Ellen was treated as
though she were nothing more than a slave. She was allowed to wear
only one set of clothes and was rarely bathed. Mary Ellen slept on
a piece of rug under a window in the living room and was locked in a closet
when her mother left the house.
Mary Ellen had no toys to
play with and was never allowed outside to play with the other children.
When a policeman who lived in her building found her locked in a closet
in her home, he gave her some candy, which she had never tasted before.
Though he treated her well, the police man never did anything to save Mary
Ellen from her abuser.
Sadly, many people knew of
the abuse Mary Ellen was suffering, including the police officer who lived
in the same building as she did, however, her suffering went on for years,
until Etta Wheeler and Henry Bergh entered her life.
Etta Wheeler arrived at the
house in September 1874 to find Mary Ellen
covered in bruises and scars.
Mary Ellen had a gash in her forehead made by
the care taker, with a pair
of scissors. She made several return visits to check on Mary Ellen.
At this time there were no laws in affect to protect children so
Etta Wheeler persuaded Henry
Bergh, from the American Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals,
to go court on Mary Ellen's behalf.
Mary Ellen's "foster"
mother, Mary Connolly, was convicted of assault and
battery and sentenced to
a year of hard labor in the city penitentiary.
Mary Ellen had this say in
court:
"Mamma 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. I have no
recollection of ever having been kissed and
have never been kissed
by Mamma."
After the trial, Mary Ellen
eventually ended up living with Etta Wheeler's sister. In 1888, at
the age of 24, she was married to Lewis Schutt. She had two daughters who
both grew up to be teachers. Mary Ellen died October 30, 1956 at
the age of 92.
In April 1875, the New York
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
was created, only eight months
after Mary Ellen's ordeal. Other states then
began to form agencies for
the protection of children.
Read the facts as told by
Mary Ellen's decendents as well as Eric Shelman and
Stephan Lazortz, M.D:
Purchase this book:
Amazon
~ Yahoo
~ Hall
Of Events
Out
Of The Darkness
I was given this book as a gift
from my son and daughter-in-law. Let me tell you that I read the
entire book over a two day period. The book held my attention so
that it was hard to put it down.
It shows pictures of Mary
Ellen, Etta Angell Wheeler, Henry Bergh, Lewis Schutt the man Mary Ellen
married, Mary Ellen's children and several others. The book details
Mary ellen's life from birth to death and I found it to be one of the best
books I have ever read.
A Child's Silent Prayer
Some where in the distance
a desperate child can be
heard
though never does he chance
to speak aloud a single word
His cries fill the night
from the pain they choose
to send
silently he prays alone
for this nightmare to come
to an end
Curled up against the bed
post
he hides his face in
fear
as slowly down the hall
angry footsteps are drawing
near
He thinks:
"What could I have done
to bring on all this pain
I didn't forget to clean
my room,
or walk the dog again
I only want to show my love
each day to mom and dad
Let them know how much I
try
show them I don't like to
be sad
I wish that they could see
that all I need is love
So I am sending up a prayer
to God in heaven above
Please help them both to see
as you bless my mom and dad
That even though I am very
small
I try very hard not to be
bad
I might get stains on my new
shirt
sometimes I might spill my
cup
But stains do come out in
wash
and a little spill will mop
right up
Even when they broke my arm
I kept up with every chore
I cleaned my plate at every
meal
did all they asked and even
more
I keep my bedroom nice and
neat
on the floor this is not
one toy
and everything is in it's
place
I try to be a good little
boy
Can't you let my parents see
that hitting me is just not
right
that I love them very much
this I ask of you tonight
Tell them I need hugs and
love
and that I like to give them
to
Oh, please help, dear God
above
that is what I need from
you
Amen
Author:
Sharon Schafer
© Copyright
2000
All rights
reserved
Within the next few pages of
my site you will learn about the terrible realities of child abuse. You
will find resources for reporting this terrible legal and moral crime.
So much can be done to prevent these terrible crimes against the innocent
victims. The smallest, weakest and least deserving of what they must face
every day at the hands of their abusers.
If you would like to link
to these pages, here is a graphic
you can use or a text link
would be fine.
Please link back to:
http://www.angelizdsplace.com/child1.htm
National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2004
By the President of the United States
A Proclamation
America has a fundamental duty to protect the safety
and well-being of its children. During National Child Abuse Prevention
Month, we renew our commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect, and
we dedicate ourselves to creating a safe environment in which our children
can grow and thrive.
We have made important progress in protecting America's
children, but too many still suffer from abuse and neglect. Recent reports
indicate that nearly 900,000 children were found to be victims of abuse
or neglect in 2002. Of these children, an estimated 1,400 died, 75 percent
of whom were 4 years old or younger.
These young girls and boys depend on adults to recognize
the risk factors and warning signs of abuse and to take action to end it.
This critical responsibility is shared by parents, teachers, coaches, religious
leaders, government officials, and concerned citizens in every community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by
the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April
2004 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I encourage all citizens
to take an active role in creating a caring community and help protect
America's children from abuse and neglect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and
of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
My name is Sarah
I am but three My eyes are swollen
I cannot see
I must be stupid I must be bad
What else could have made My daddy so mad
I wish I were better I wish I weren't ugly
Then maybe my mommy Would still want to hug me
I cant do a wrong I cant speak at all
Or else im locked up All day long
When im awake im all alone The house is dark
My folks aren't home When my mommy does come home
I'll try and be nice So maybe ill just get
One whipping tonight
I just heard a car My daddy is back
From Chariles bar
I hear him curse My name is called
I press myself Against the wall
I try to hide From his evil eyes
Im so afraid now I starting to cry
He finds me weeping Calls me ugly words
He says its my fault He suffers at work
He slaps and hits me And yells at me more
I finally get free And run to the door
He's already locked it And i start to bawl
He takes me and throws me Against the hard wall
I fall to the floor With my bones nearly broken
And my daddy continues With more bad words spoken
"Im sorry!", I scream But its now much to late
His face has been twisted Into a unimaginable shape
The hurt and the pain Again and again
O please God, have mercy O please let it end
And he finally stops And heads for the door
While I lay there motionless Brawled on the floor
My name is Sarah I am but three
Tonight my daddy Murdered me
Author: Unknown
Did this poem affect you? Do something about it!
All I ask you to do Is pass this on!
IF YOU ARE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE...
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS POEM AND PASS IT ON!
Please sign the petition
and then click on the
back button in your browser
to return to this page.
THANK YOU!
.
For information about preventing child abuse in the
state of New Jersey, click
the links below. If they can't help you,
ask for someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help for an abused
child!
Department
Of Children And Families
Call this number to report
child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
Please click the next button to go to the list of names
of the children who are on my
site that have been abused, most have been abused
to death.
  
.
Share this page with your
family and friends!
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Please let me know that you
were here, by signing my
guestbook. The link below
will take you to my guestbook
page where you can read a
message about my site and
choose to read or sign.
I make no copyright claim to
anything on these pages that was not written or created by me. All information
is collected off of the internet, from books or from people who knew the
victims.
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