GROSS CRUELTY TO A BOY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 27 May 1907, Page 1

GROSS CRUELTY TO A BOY.

A case of cruelty to a boy, described by an officer of the National Society for tlio Prevention of Cruelty to Children as the worst he had seen in fifteen years, was before the Bromley Kent-, Police Court recently. Frederick Leadbeatter, gardener and expolifeman, was summoned for cruelty to Freddy Cope, aged six, the soil of Dora Cope, whom the accused had been living. Mr. Gregory, who prosecuted, said the accused had been in the army and in the Metropolitan Police. Leadbeatter seemed to have developed a hatred for the boy, and the headmaster' at Keston Schools noticed that from being bright and intelligent when he first -went to the school the boy had grown nervous and shrinking.

He further noticed that tho boy’s hands and thumbs wore so swollen that ho dould not hold a pencil to write. A doctor was culled in and tho boy was removed to the infirmary.

- Tho inspector found at tho house that defendant had erected a trapeze in one of the rooms for the purpose of making the hoy swing and exerciso. The boy could not do it, when he was put by his father on tho trapeze with his head down and hanging by the legs, lie fell and injured his shoulder, and was then beaten because he fell oil'. Dr. Blake said ho found tho boy had been disgracefully knocked about. Although it was three days after tho boating his hands, thumbs, and wrists were swollen and tender. Tho arms, back, and thighs wore covered with weals, and on the right shoulder was a largo bruise which could have been caused by a fall from a trapeze. The boy had been brutally illtreated. The defendant had no defence; all lie sad was, “I simply lost my temper; that is all.” Hu was fined £5 and 12s costs.