DOMINICA MOISER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 880, 28 July 1910, Page 5

DOMINICA MOISER.

SNATCHED FROM THE FLAMES, j GRAVE ALLEGATIONS. MOTHER COMMITTED FOE TRIAL. At (toe Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., a woman, named Vatetine Moiser appeared on remaud with wilfully illtreating a child, Dominica Moiser, aged four years and ten months, in a manner likely to cause injury to its health. The cass aiose as the result of a recent fire at accused's house in Charlton Avenue, when the child was saved from a burning bed by Henry Joseph Carroll, whose evidence was given when the case was partially heard on July 23. Sub-Inspector Norwood prosecuted on. behalf of the police, and Mr. Kirkcaldie appeared for accused. Charles Dorman, labourer, stated that he lived next door to accused, who with her two children, had resided in Charltou Avenue for about three months. Witness had- frequently heard the child crying, and, on one occasion, he heard screams as though the little girl were being beaten, ana was calling for bread. This wa.s about two or throe weeks ago. Almost every evening when witness camo home from work he heard the. Sobs and cries of the child.

Child's Cries: Neighbour Intervenes. Mary Cook, married woman, residing at. 12 Charlton Avenue, stated that accused had lived nest door to her for about two months. During that period witness had only seen the littlo girl Dominica about twice. About seven weeks ago, in consequence of hearing cries, witness went round to the door, and asked accused what she was doing to the child to cause the screaming. Accused replied that she vfas giving it medicine. On July 15 witness heard screaming again,' and could hear the child being thrashed. Witnsss heard accused say to tho child: "If you do not keep quiet .1 will kick your inside out." Witness then knocked against the side of the house, and accused shortly after came out, and again said that she was giving the child medicine. Witness replied: "If tho child is ill, why not get medical assistance, and not thrash-itP" To this accused replied that she did have the ohild under a doctor. Witness then remarked that ehe would inform the sergeant of police a.bout the thrashing. Accused roplied: "If you do, I will be readv for him." Witness had heard the child crying pretty frequently, in fact every day, but could not say whether it was thrashed every day.

Rescued Just in Time. At 3 p.m. on July 18 witness noticed that tho front room of tho house was on fire. All the doors and windows were locked, and, as she knew that the little girl was inside, sht>. with tie assistance of a man named Stokes, broke into the house. She afterwards saw a man bring the child out, and it was handed to witness. It had a piece of strong tape, with a loop, tied fairly tightly round its neck. Mr. Stokes, J,who went into the house with witness, cut the tape off the neck of the child; who had only a thin garment on. The child was in a filthy condition, and its face and hands could hardly be seen for dirt, while the body was very neariy black. ■ After giving other details, witness went on to say that when the little girl was taken to her (witness's) home and placed on the table, it cried, "Meat, meat," and a little food was given. There were burns, about the legs, in addition to certain wounds anti sores described. She.had,seen accused on one or two occasions during July the worse for liquor.

Waller Cook, and husband of the previous witness, stated that he had never seen the child, but had heard it being Tather severely beutn at times, and had heard screams. Judging from the screams he thought that it was being unduly chastised. On the day of the fire he. had made up his mind to complain''!tb'' tlte "police about the' matter. Percy James Stokes, letter-carrier, residing at Waterloo, Avenue, ...Newtown,, stated that when/.passing accused's house .'on July. 18,. h'« noticed u fire, and was told by Mrs. Cook .that a child was inside. Ho made two attempts' to get inside, but. was driven back by the sfnoke. He afterwards went round to. the back, and saw the child being brought out and handed, to the care of Mrs. Cook. He also "corroborated Mrs. Cook's, evidence concerning the child's condition.

The Mother's Written Statement. Constable Doyle, in giving evidence as to the condition of the child, stated that it was poorly nourished, and the legs wero so thin that the bones ,almost protruded through the skin. He then handed in a signed statement made to him by the accused, which read as follows:—

"lama married woman living apart from my husband. . . I left my house at 2 p.m. to-day (July 18), and • left my daughter Dominica, aged four years and ten months, in bed. I tied' a piece of string to her dress, and attached it'to the bed. The string produced is not the string It is •my usual practice when going out to tie the child. There was a box of matches in the room on the dressing, table. The matches were found spread about. I cannot account for the sores and cuts on the child. She has been sick since Christmas last. I have given her medicine, but. have not taken her to any doctor ■If the neighbours soy I illtreat tho children it is untrue. I do hit them when they deserve it." Continuing, Constable Doyle said the child was taken to Dr. Shnnd, who ordered its removal to the hospital. Child's Emaciated Condition. Sergeant Rutledge gave evidence as to the arrest. Accused denied to him that she had been cruel to the child. Nurse Jones, a member of the staff at tho Wellington Hospital, testified to the child's condition when admitted to the institution. It was still an inmate. Philip Randall Woodhouse, of the medical staff at the hospital, also gave particulars of the child's emaciated condition when admittjd. This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at self in ,£3O, and one surety of a like amount.