STONEBREAKER, Mattie
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Argus News Oct 3, 1896
Mrs. Mattie Stonebraker, wife of Edward Stonebraker, of Veedersburg, has brought a $3,000 damage suit against her father-in-law, Elias Stonebraker of Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County, for the malformation of her child. The complaint recites that the defendant brutally beat the plaintiff’s husband with a club till the young man was frightfully bloody, and his face and head covered with cuts and bruises. Plaintiff was present and was greatly horrified and shocked. Four months later a child was born to her and its face and head were fearfully disfigured by red and unsightly birthmarks, similar in appearance to the cuts and bruises made on its father by the defendant. The child will go through life disfigured and hideous. Wright & Seller appear for the plaintiff.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 2 October 1896
Wright & Sellar Saturday filed in the circuit court a damage suit which, perhaps, has not a parallel in the history of litigation in Indiana. The plaintiff is Mrs. Mattie Stonebraker, wife of Ed Stonebraker of Veedersburg, and the defendant is her father-in-law, Elias Stonebraker, of Coal Creek Township, this county. The plaintiff demands $3000 for the malformation of her child. The complaint recites that a year ago last April, the plaintiff and her husband lived in Coal Creek Township, and that one day the defendant, Elias Stonebraker, becoming angry with his son, the plaintiff’s husband, gave him a terrible beating. The angered father beat his son over the head with a club until the young man was frightfully bloody, his face and head being covered with ugly cuts and gashes. The plaintiff was present and was greatly horrified and frightened. Four months later a child was born to her and its face and head were fearfully disfigured by red and unsightly birth marks, similar in appearance to the cuts and bruises made on its father at the time of the trouble above referred to. Mrs. Stonebraker lays the cause of this disfigurement to her father-in-law and has brought suit for damages. The child will go through life uncouth and hideous.