Shocking Inhumanity AT DUYNEDIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 107, 13 April 1883, Page 3

Shocking Inhumanity AT DUYNEDIN.

A BQ? STARVED TO DEATH ■BY HIS PARENTS. The principal evidence at tho Wain inquest was ■ given by Mrs Martha McKenzie, v>ho reside < next door to i^e Wain's. She said :— On the 26tb 1 February she saw deceased at the back window, crying and be koning to her. She asked him what was the matter, but cottld not catch his exact reply. She asked him if he was alone, and he gaifl he was. She afterwards went over toWain's house, andj m answer to a question .put by her, deceased said he was very thirsty. He was trembling ♦cry much, and altogether appeared m 'a shocking condition. : His legs and 1 arms were bare. She told him to roll down his shirt sleeves^ and cover himself with t c counterpane off one of the • "beds. He seemed anxious to get out for a drink. She asked' him if he was hungry. He hesitated, and then said. I; f Yesi'* The window was nailed down, but she managed to get the top part open, and she threw over some bread and buttery : which he ate very quickly, ; He was begging"for a drink, but she could fiot manage to hard one over to him; : She'prOTQisSdtp'seeihat he'gotone as Boon'as< possible . Se said the door was; : locked. She noticed a cut on his nose, •nd that he had a black eye. She OBked him hbW he gbt - these injuries, and he Said his ipother had hit him with a stick. She said, "Surely not," but he replied, .■.'- fI ,Q yea-she did." She asked him what he did to be always there, a"£id he said he did "nothing wronp. She did nothing that day* ,si' she thought deceased's r brother wouldattend to him. ■ On the 2nd ai arch she saw the child half through the window. The sight startled her, and on looking the second time she saw : that he was trying to climb over . She ' '• ifenti to the house, and on arriving found two other ladies talking to 'him. He was begginjf to be taken over. She hfeßxfate<J,-and he said, "Do take me over; lamso . hungry and- thirsty." He was m the 6ame state as on the first ! : b^flfsipn.. ' On being helped through | the window he ran into her' house. She gate him aorrifl bread and butter, anll lt cbTd 'beet He tirariktwoimd ahalf cnpßfull.of tea": t She refusei 1 at first to ■ gite him' the last half cap as she thought ( ,iti would hurt him;; but he.Baidit would ' -not and she gave it to him . She could not say how much butter he ate, as she Vas so excited seeing the child m the State he wis. He "said his mouth tasted very soft; !She asked him about I is eye, and obtain^d^the^same reply as before. | She then.] asked himabout his arm, whicV Bhe* noticed to be broken. He sail his mother did it, and that he did not know why tie was treated as he was. He plead'ed'Very hard to Stay with her; and Vasked/to be put to bed. She' said she could not put him to bed. Jrle was : - getting -Tttfy sleepy. One of' har children • i - lifted- the blind of the " kitchen window, ' X ': J and^he begged of it not' to do-so, as his ■'^parents' might see him. The child spoke a good deal, bab she was so much excited at the "time that she could not remember what tieisaid. had a -serge blou c on, bat no boots or stockings. She keptthe child at her home until information was given to the police; ;