Re first case of prosecuted child abuse in US
Actually, in the Mary Ellen Wilson case in 1874 in New York, the issue was not the absence of laws to protect children but the fact that the abuse occurred behind closed doors. If a child were beaten in public,existing assault laws could be used as the basis for arresting the perpetrator.
Mary Ellen was not protected under cruelty to animals statutes. However, Henry Bergh, President of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in NYC and his lawyer Elbridge Gerry, did get involved in the case and used a section of the habeas corpus law in which a judge ordered that she be removed from her home in order to determine whether she was being held unlawfully.
There was actually an earlier case, with a child named Emily Tompson, that predated the Mary Ellen case, and which also involved the intervention of Henry Bergh acting as a concerned citizen.
The Mary Ellen case did directly lead to the founding of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with Bergh and Gerry as two of the three founders.
If folks are interested, I can provide some references for this history. The American Humane Association - (303) 792-9900 - has available a reprint of an article written by Etta Wheeler, the church social worker in NY's Hell's Kitchen, who brought the Mary Ellen case to light.
Frank R. Ascione, PhD
Professor
Department of Psychology
Utah State University
2810 Old Main Hill
Logan, UTAH 84322-2810
FrankA@COE.USU.EDU
TEL 435 797-1464
FAX 435 797-1448
*PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 1998
*Lockwood, R. & Ascione, F.R.
*Cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence:Readings
in research and application.Purdue University Press
1 800 933-9637
Now available!
Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Animal Abuse: Linking
the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention.
Frank R. Ascione and Phil Arkow (Eds.)
Purdue University Press. [A PROJECT OF THE LATHAM
FOUNDATION]
Available January, 2000 Ascione, F.R. Safe Havens for
Pets:Guidelines for Programs Sheltering Pets for Women
who are Battered. Logan, UT: Author
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