A REVOLTING CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1920, Page 4

A REVOLTING CASE

(Per Press Association.)

CIIRIS’I'CH URCH, September 22.. At the Mi'igistrite’s Court, boforo Mr S. E. McCarthy, Herbert Charles Boss and Catherine Annie Henrietta Hass, a young married cqmile, were charged under Section 28 f)i the \lnfants’ Protection Act will] having during the past six months wilfully neglected and exposed an illegitimate male child, aged two years and seven months in a manner likely tf> cap sc t|ic child Unnecessary suffering and injury to health.

The evidence showed that the female accused, was the mother of the child, and the putative father had been regularly paying maintenance. On Septemberv I''lb. a rnslable and a nurse in the employ of the Public Health Department vislod the home of the accused nri found (be child in a neglected and poorly-clad condition, sitting on a hard chair in the ynril. Its feet wore swollen with large sores. The •turntable informed the mother that the child seemed to he slowly dying, and she admitted she was unable to give it the care it should have. There vvero throe other children in the family, two the legitimate offspring of the accused and another illegitimate child.

A medical man said the condition of the child named in the charge was due to starvation and neglect. The accused denied that the child had boon starved, and stated it had received the same nourishment as the other children. His Worship remarked that the treatment extended to the child was diabolical and inhuman to the last degree.

Each was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.