SERIOUS ACCUSATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 453, 12 March 1890, Page 6

SERIOUS ACCUSATION.

ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILDREN. Christchurch, March 4. A man named Frederick Jones, and a woman with whom lie had been cohabiting at Southbridge, named Jane Lee, are in gaol, charged with grossly illtreating and beating two of the woman’s children by her first husband, now dead. The children’s names are Ada Lee, six years, and William Lee, eight. The accused came to Southbridge about three weeks ago, and on Friday some neighbours named Woodbury heal’d cries and screams coming from. the house, as if the children were being unmercifully beaten. Information being given to the police, Constable Warring went to the bouse and demanded admittance, which was at first refused; bub subsequently granted. The children were then shown to him, and. the.boy was asked how he got a scalp wound on his head. He looked timidly at his mother, and replied in a hesitating manner, “ I gob it by falling olfattee.” The girl also gave some fincertain answers that 'evening,- and the constable reported the circumstances. Later, on hearing more, about the cruelty, he returned to the house and removed the children, but could • not. find the woman, who was keeping hidden. ’’.He took the two children to Doctor YVithers, who examined them', and '’on his recommendation they : were detained tor treatment. ’ The doctor' described the wounds as the result of a very severe’ beating, with a stick) find if the scalp wound on .the boy’s. head had not ‘ been attended to at once it might have' been very serious. All that was necessary for the children’s benefit was done, and the con-stable-later on arrested both the man and the woman and brought them, before the' Justices, wbo have remanded the accused till Friday, for the charge to bo heard-be-fore Mr Beetham. . Y.‘ .