Shocking Cruelly to Children

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 93, 23 March 1885, Page 3

Shocking Cruelly to Children

PRESS ABSOCIATIOX. ) ' Ddnedin, Mavch 21.. Tp-night's Star, gives the following particulars of a gross case of cruelty to children on the part of a father and stepmother, 'which' has caused amongst the neighbors • of Kensington an excitement almost equal to that of the Wain case: — The father is an expressman ! named Alex.: Fleming, and his first wife > died' in June last. In Noveinbbr he married Caroline Condon, and entrusted to her care the children by his first marriage — John (aged eleven), Mary (nine),<and .Isabella (five). Recently the immediate neighbors! of Mr and Mrs Fleming entertained suspicions that the I children received, more whippings than | they deserved; but it was hot until the. I last 1 few days that they wer.e'inade cognisant of tlie nature of the' beatings. Facts have now come out which f leave it a 'iniatte.r beyond doubt that the 'children have bee^ii' subjected to brutal illusage,' andj that with little or ! no prbvocatibhJ ' A Mrs Greatrix seems to have put the pblice pii the alert m regard to the' case, < and; Sergeant McDonakl, irqrn information received 'from ; her, last iiight' ptoceeded with'Cfonstable Balton to Fleming's housfi, "The former at bnce'tciok' upon liimself to make an examination of "the ! children, and he foiiiid marks o f such seytre . whippings' that he took charge of 1 them,; ana had them examined by t>r Ferguson. Thi^ medical Tgpiitleinan gave' the folio wing certificate i— " I : hereby' certify -that, sit the request of Sergeant McDonald, of South .Dunedin, : li. nave this; even' hig' examined John, Maf y , dnd Isabella Fleming; the children bf'A'tex. Fleming, residing m Kefi. singfcon. ' Th' 6: b.oclies present indication's^ of their haVmg beeiv cruelly beaten', covered with red angry streaks or lines ' rom head to foot. There are marks of bruises of old standing on different parts of the body." This morning we were afforded ah opportunity of? seeing the chil-1 dreh, and were horrified by a. sight of marks, which could 6hly be the result of .whippings equal to the 'lashes prescribed tor hardened'criniinals, froinhea'd to foot* The unfortiuiate children were covered , with' excoriations,' and m many of the 'cuts there are signs of blood. No portion, of the' bodies, with the exception of their ' faces, escaped the stripes; which . must have caused intense agony. They vtere bright, intelligent; and !good looking, and from. tHei^'demeanour' we; should judge' that' '.they would take their' place, the; beSt^behaved , m any conir . ;munity ; . The boy.^infonned us that the injuries were caused by beatings at the father and mother,, the latter haying • beaten . him la^t . evening. ... The „ g irl, Mary^tojd.: a similar story, but, the youngw one would not state hot£ she. re. ceived jihe fearful cuts , and ,bruises all dverber, 0 : Mrs Wall, who hasji'yediiext; : door 'for: the last six weeks,' has; heard children beaten almost daily, an,d Mrs< Lamb', the previous tenant; saw the 'boy •beaten several times by Mrs Fleming, whp had also threatened more v than once jto murdejr the children.; They haW been' " attending the Eensington public"6bhß6ii and get an excellent character fpr^pbedienpe and re"sp'e"ct from the head teacher Mr Moore. Fleming an 4; Ms v w|fe wer? brought up a^the Police- Cpprt^to-day on <one,' of the; several informations which have, been- laid against them. They Mere defended by Mr .^(jGregpr. JDr Fejrguson, m his evidence, said he had .been told the lashings were given with a cart whip. *"He had never seen children so totured before,, and hoped he never wpuld again. 1 The charge was remaiided till next. Wednesday, and the children, at. the request the police and with the' coßsent.of the parents,, were given intpj the custody of their aunt, ;.,:.,