CRUELTY TO CHILD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2180, 23 September 1920, Page 2

CRUELTY TO CHILD.

“INHUMAN AND DIABOLICAL.” Christchurch, Sept. 22. At the Magistrate's Court, before Mr S. E. McCarthy. S.M., Herbert Charles Ross and Catherine Annie Henrietta Ross, a young married i couple, were charged under section 28 of the Infants Protection Act. with having, during the past six months, wilfully neglected and exposed an illegitimate male child .aged (wo years and seven months in a maimer likely to cause the child unnecessary suffering and injury to its health. The evidence showed that the female accused was the mother of the child, and the putative father hud been regularly paying maintenance. On September 14th a constable and a nurse in (he employ of the Public Health Department visited tin 1 home of the accused and found the child in a neglected and poorly-clad condition, sitting on a hard chair in a yard. Its feet were swollen with largo sores. The constable informed (he mother that the child seemed to be ,-dowly dying, and she admitted s l wi .y was unable to give it the care * should have. There were three other children in the family; two the legitimate offspring of the accused, and another illegil incite child. A medical man said the condition of the child named in the charge was due to starvation and neglect. Accused denied that the child had been starved, and stated that it had received the same nourishment as the other children. His Worship remarked that the treatment extended to the child was ■ dabolical and inhuman to the last degree. Each - accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.