A REVEREND RASCAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1127, 7 December 1883, Page 3

A REVEREND RASCAL.

At the Kilmeague, in the county of Kildare, the Rev. S. G. .Cotton was charged with committing Aggravated assaults oncertain inmates of the Carogh Orphanage,, at Goutstown, an , institution under the management of the defendant—viz., on a f.rna'e named Ellen Kelly, on the 10th August ; on Wm. Volan, a child under fourteen years of age ; and John Boss and John C eiry, on loth August. Mr Lord, in opening the case, said that the defendant was, with the assistance of his wife, the sole conductor and manager of an’institntion at Goatstown, known as the Carogh Orphanage. On a day in last month Head-cons table O’Sullivan was near this place and he saw in a field a ,child dragging something after its leg. He called to see Mr'Gdftph,' and they went over to the child, "aird fmnVd a log with a chain attached to it,, the chain being fastened rouiid • the child’s -h-gf The child had Beßher stocking l nor shoes, and the I‘hain’was aOtuallv rubbing against the ski . The chain was secured by a padlock, the rev, defendant ' holding the key. Mr Cotton told the constable that he did that, and that he would continue to do it, to prevent the child running away. Subsequently, on 15th August,! the constable saw two children, about eight years of age, chained together, fas ened with a padlock, of which th« defendant kept the key. These children were chained together day and night. Mr , Cotton did not deny this, but gave as his excuse,,, that : he did it to "khep the. children from-ijntyning away from ttW drpbwiage,' ./The 'head .-.constable, on .IHfikihg'.again', fynnikaboy.with a chain and lag' fasteij’p'l'td h ; .s- leg... On seeing it, the girl Ellph’Kelly said “That was the log that”was round my leg day and night, and I had to perform the household duties of the orphanage.” There was no expression of regret on the part of Mr Cotton for conduct which ho (Mr Lord) considered was unbecoming a man in his position and disgraceful to ,-a minister, of the Church. The Government had directed him (Mr Lord) to press, this cise, in order to see whether the practice could he put a stop to. The Rev. Mr Cotton refused to give the log to the head ornstal'le, saying- he would keep it, and that it belonged to hini, hut that he would weigh it for U’Suiliyan, He did so, and%( weighed four’pounds, some ounces. A-fter Rearing .the evidence the chairman said that the . magistra es, after carefully considering the ease, were of opinion that an aggravated assault had been proved in each case, and they would fine the defen-dant-for the assault on William Nolan, L2 ; for the assault on John Ross, L2 ; for the assault on Ellen Kelly, L4—with costs in each case. Mr Toomey intimated his indention of appealing. _