MISERY IN THE EMPIRE CITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1421, 1 December 1886, Page 3

MISERY IN THE EMPIRE CITY.

( JSvening Post)

A pitiful case has just been brought ■nder the notice of the police. Towards midnight last night Constable Reddnll found a little fellow named Fra* cis W. Petersen, about 7 years old, sleeping in the open air on one of the sections adjoining Mrs Walker’s millinery establishment, Lambton-qnay, with no other covering than that afforded by an old sack. The child stated that he had passed the lest four nights in the same place, preferring its rough accomodation to the discomforts of bis home. He had, he said, no btd, his father sleeping on a box, while he was obliged to lie on the floor and he bad scarcely any food for days. Constable Beddell took care of the little waif as a neglected child, and brought h m before Messrs G. S. Graham, J. R. George, and B. T; Gillon, Justicea this morning, whan B remand until Wednesday next wss granted, as the case requires to be dealt with by a Resident M« jbtrate. Two other members of the same family will also be taken charge of by tie police apd brought before the Court on Wednesday. It appears that their mother is in the habit of association with prostitutes and other bad characters, but is at present undergoing $ month’s Imprisonment for vagrancy, TThllp their father is a loafing character, who is continually in a muddled state through drink Several constables have ylsited the tenement In Taranaki-street ppeppie4 by the family, at different times, pnd they state that the house is in a deplorable condition, while the children are bpth neglected ?s regards clothing, and CPiaolatfa for want of food,