A SORDID STORY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16436, 1 February 1919, Page 5

A SORDID STORY.

(TRES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.} AUCKLAND, January 81. A sad story of neglect of a mentally defective person was repealed in a case heard at the Police Court to-day, when William Revland, farmer, of Huketere, and his wite, Elizabeth Eleanor Reyland, were charged with endangering the life of their-eon, Frank, a mentally defective person, by failing to supply him with the aecceaaries of life. Arthur E. Qrigg, Sergt.-Major in the New Zealand Defenoo i'oroe, stationed «at Maunga-, turoto, said that on January 24th he visited the residence of accused on. the banks of the "Wairoa. river «t Huketere, in company with Constable Boag, who asked Mrs Reyland where her son Frank was. She said she would get him, and went towards a sguUl house on the beach. "When she saw that the constable .was watching her, she retraced her steps hurriedly. Finally an® wont to a hut in the ti-tree about sixty yards from the house. This hut was about 6ft 6m by "ft. When witness reached tho But he saw the soil, and eaw Mm Reyland putting a shirt on him, otherwise the eon was naked. He was absolutely filthy, end his hajr was n»tt*<S and badly infested with venom. Continuing, witness said the hut was in an indescribable state." There was no bedding, but only some rags end ilix fibre. There wwe finger marks on the walls and doors, indicating that the inmate had been "clawing" them. A.bout three or four feet from the hut was a fowlhouse. The appearance of Frank Beyland indicated absolute neglect. When asked how long- it was since she had washed her son, Mrs Reyland did not seem «juite clear, but said she thought it would be about the beginning of tho wook. Bho* s*id bo had boe>a in the hut since tho boginni n% of tho warm weather, with the exception of one rough night about Christmas time,- when he was taken down to the house. Constable Boag said that os far W wit, ness could learn th© son was 29 years of age. He was undersised, and under developed. The father had stated that he had built the hut for the accommodation of hip son, as his presence in the house hud objection«ble. When the son was taken out of the house he showed sigfis of exhaustion, and had difficulty in walking: Witness was of opinion that his weak jhjsical condition was due to close confinement. Dr. J. C. Fabst stated that the son . was a moral defective, with only sufficient intelligence to indicate some of his primary wants, ■ Hie was of opinion thAt treatment such as the patient was stated to have rechived coald havo produoed 'iwbility to walk. He noticed that the body was only moderately nourished. Accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed . to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £50 each, and was forthcoming. During the afternoon Frank Reyland was examined' by two and on their recommendation was committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital.