A SAD STORY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 8

A SAD STORY

PARENTS CHARGED AVITII NEGLECT. By Telegraph-PreßS Association. Auckland, January 31. A sad story of the neglect of a mentally defective person was revealed in a case heard beforo Mr. Hurst, S.M., at the Police Court, when AVilliam Keyland, farmer, Huketere, and his wife, Elizabeth Eleanor Keylaud, were charged with endangering the life of their son Frank, & mentally defective person, by failing to supply him with necessaries of life. - Arthur E. Grigg, a sergeant-major in the New Zealand Defence Force, sta> tioned at Maungaturoto, said that 011 January 21 ho visited the residence of the accused, on the banks of the AYairoa J?iver, at -Huketere, in company with Constahlo Boag, who asked Mrs. Beyland where her son Frank was. Sho said she would get him, and went towards a small house on the beach. When she saw that the constable was watching her she retracted her steps hurriedly. Finally she went to a hut in the titreo about"®)' yards from the house. This hut was about 6ft. Gin. by sft. AVhen witness reached the hut 110 saw the son, and saw Mrs. Keyiand putting a shirt on him. Otherwise the son was naked. He was absolutely filthy, and his hnir was matted and badly infested with vermin. Continuing, witness said tho hut was in an indescribable state. There was 110 bedding, but only some rags and flax fibre. There were finger marks on the walls and tho doors, indicating that the inmate had been "clawing" them. About 3 feet or 1 feet from the hut wns a fowlhouse. The appearance of Frank Reyiand indicated absolute neglect. When asked how long it was sinco she had washed her son, Mrs. Uoyland did not seem quite dear, but said she thought it would be about the beginning of the week. She said he' had been'in (he hut since tho beginning of the warm, weather, with the exception of one rough night, about Christina? time, when he was taken down to the house. Constable Bong said that as far as ho could learn the son was 2!) years of age. lie was under-sized and under-developed. The father had stated that he had built the hiiifc for the accommodation of his sou us his presenco in the house had beooino objectionable. AVhen the son was taken out of the house ho showed s.igns of exhaustion and had difficulty in walking. Witness was of'opinion that his weak physical condition was due to close confinement. Dr. J. C. Pabst stated that (lie son was a moral defective, with only sufficient intelligence to indicate some of hiy primary wants. He was of opinion that treatment such as the patient was stated to have received could have produced inability to walk. He noticed that the body was only moderately nourished. ■ Accused pleaded guilty and. were .committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in two sureties of JESO each, and was forthcoming. During the afternoon Frank Bevlnnd was examined by two doctors, and 011 their recommendation was committed to tho Auckland Mental Hospital.