Cruelty to Children.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 249, 18 November 1903, Page 4

Cruelty to Children.

A DEPLORABLE CASE. At the Wellington Police Court on Friday, a story of brutal treatment *>> a father towards two of )iis children wafc told by the Sub-Insiwctor of I'olice in the case brought against Joseph Hennis, charging him with cvutllt ill-treating Hugh and Susan IVnnis, aged eleven and eight years respectively. In answer to the inI'd; Liaiion (reports the Times) accused said he could not remember—he must have been drunk. The evidence of two boys, called for the prosecution, showed that the accused had been seen chasing his little girl about Sydney-street cutting. He threw a broom, which luckily miFSed the child. He then overtook her on the footpath, and dragged her home by the neck, amidst the entreaties of the poor child not ,to choke her. The mother told the Court that tne father had been drinking. After taking »;H; girl out of bed, he kicked her with his bare feet and then dragged the l>oy out by the heels, and swinging him round, knocked iiis head against the leg of a table. hhe afterwards noticed that the lad's fare was marked ami bruised. The previous morning lie (accused) had sent the boy for some meat, and instead of returning he ran away. The other child followed him. Sergeant Mi'.ier gave evidence that the boy's forehead was cut when tiie police called at accused's residence. There was also a cut at the back of his neck.

These statements were corroborated by the two children—both very smail for their vears—iu evidence. '! he girl, in reply to the Magistrate, said she only sometimes" went to school. Evidence was given by Constable Redican and Detective Brnberg as to the condition in which the family lived. The lattar said accused was a bricklayer's labourer, and should be able to earn a good living. Witness had occasion to call °at the house some time ago, when two of accused's children were committed to the Receiving Heme. U was in a revolting state of filth—in fact, he never saw anything like it.- The children were accommodated in a corner of the room, with a Uw scraps of what had once been blankets, and some dirty rag*. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Threo of the children were committed to the Receiving Home—making six i* all. The mother stated that she could get along with tHfe other two, aged three years and three months respectively.