CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2204, 20 August 1889, Page 3

CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

(?XB FBKSS ASSOCIATION.) Ohbistohoboh, Angnst 19 Mf Fisher's cross-examination did very little to shake the evidence m chief given by , the child, m fact Up to the adjournment of the Court the principal new fact elicited was that at a time when the Abbot's had a vi*itor they gave her the same kind of food as they eat themselves. An attempt to show tbat the hair came out through disease, and that the bruises were the result of f tils was unsuccessful An admission was also got from the poor little creature, who burst out eying from time to time, tbat she had stolen a plateful of cakes and some pickles and eat them, as she had a packet of pinus insignia seeds, because sbe was starring. An immense crowd surrounded the Court to citch a glimpse of the eh Id as she was taken away to the hospital. Mrs Wyatt, a neighbor of Abbott's, to whom the child had fled for food, told how Esther has come to her for food thin and ttirved looking, and eaten ravenously ; how rhe had taken her back and told Abbott that she looked more likea ghost than a living being: h w she offered to take her away, and how next morning when she went to the house she heard Mrs Abbott scolding, and saying the child ought to be scourged and burnt for Tinning away and telling lies to witness. Evidence m the case occupied all the afternoon. Two neighboring women to whom the child had applied for f jod; 3 doctors, viz., Drs Symes, Deßenzi (surgeon at the hosyital), and Mcßean Stewart all testified to the emaciated condition m which they found her • Mr Meets, photographer, produced copies of photographs taken when she was fir.t in the hands of the police, showing the scars and her condition. Ihe case for the prosecution being closed Mr Fisher applied for Abbott's acquittal. The Bench decided to send both accused to trial, fix : ng the bail the same as before, accused .£l5O each and two sureties of £150 on each charge, Bail was not forthcoming, and accused were removed to gaol;