A HEARTLESS MOTHER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 881, 20 August 1910, Page 4

A HEARTLESS MOTHER.

NEGLECTS HER CHILD

AND GETS SIX MONTHS

“If you will believe the evidence that will be led in this case you will hear of cruelty and neglect which is well nigh unbelievable in this country,” said Mr H. H, Ostler, Crown Prosecutor, in opening a case in the Wellington Supreme Court on Wednesday, before Mr Justice Chapman- Accused was an unkempt-looking French woman named Valentine Moiser, who was charged with wilfully ill treating and neglecting her tour-year and ten-month-old child in a manner likely to cause injury to its health or unnecessary suffering. A plea of not guilty was entered, accused being defended by Mr K. Kirkcaldie. The evidence of Henry Joseph Carroll, labourer, showed that about 2.45 p.m. on July 18th his attention was attracted to a fire in Charlton avenue. He went to the place, heard screams, took an axe, opened a side door and searched the rooms, which were full of smoke. In the front room he found a bed on fire. On it was a child, the daughter of accused. '1 here were flames all round the bed. The child was handed to Mrs Cook. It was in a filthy condition, with only one small garment on, and looked starved. He had never seen an infant in such a condition before. The fire was confined to the vicinity of the bed.

Charles Dorman, labourer, who resided next door to accused, deposed to hearing a child in her house crying out on several occasions as if it were being beaten. On one occasion he heard the child calling out for bread. The condition of the child was described by Mary Cook, a married woman residing in Charlton avenue, who took possession of it after the fire. On the first of the two occasions when she saw Dominica Moiser she was in a filthy state. She frequently heard screaming and complained to accused, asking her why she was thrashing the child, as she knew it would not be screaming so without being chastised. Accused said she was giving the child medicine.

After the fire witness found a piece of cloth or cord round the child’s neck. Her clothes were filthy, also her body. The infant was burnt about the legs, and anyone could see it was starved. There were sores and scars on the body and face, sores on (he head and vermin in the hair. When she took the child into her house it saw some meat on the table, and cried out, “Meat, meat,” eating it ravenously when given some. In opening his defence, Mr Kirkcaldie said his case was that his client had not been guilty of any willul ill-treatment or neglect —although he had to admit that there had been some neglect. The woman was living on the compassion of a wharf labourer, and the home was one of poverty. Owing to continued illness on the part of the children accused had become so enfeebled that she was physically unfit and unable to look after the children. Dr Hogg said accused had consulted him on July iSth, in the afternoon, regarding her condition. Mr Ostler : From what you saw of her, do you think she is able to look after her children ?—Yes. Dr Hamilton Gilmer, gaol surgeon, who examined accused in the gaol, said she was not seriously ill, and improved rapidly under treatment. To Mr Ostler: He thought she was well enough to look after two children.

Accused, giving evidence on her own behalf, in broken French, said Dominica had suffered for a long time from whooping cough and also mumps. She denied having said she would kick the child, and also that she had illtreated it. She had been ill before the fire for nine weeks. While she was at Dr. Hogg's consulting him the fire had occurred at her place. Her husband had deserted her. Witness said the cuts on the child’s wrists were caused when playing horses with her brother, and the sores were due to scratching herself. She had tied the child up by the dress when she went out to keep it away from the matches on the dressing table. To Mr Ostler: She tied the string to the child’s clothes but left the one found on the child’s neck there. It was one she had been playing horses with along with her brother. She denied being under the influence of drink on the street. If the child itself said the injuries were caused by you, would it be true ?—lt would not be true. I am the mother, and I am not cruel to my own child. The child, well clad and smiling, was brought into Court and exhibited to the jury. His Honour decided that it would be little use examing her, as evidently she did not comprehend sufficiently. After a retirement of forty-five minutes the jury returned with a verdict of guilty on the second count. His Honour briefly addressed prisoner and sentenced her to a period of six months’ imprisonment.