Child's Mysterious Death.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 193, 19 August 1904, Page 4

Child's Mysterious Death.

The strange case of "Willie" Fortl is being investigated'by the West London police. Piercfing screams issuing from an "empty" house in Dancer road, Fulham, were heard by several IH'i'sons, and, dashing into the house, they found, in one of the rooms, a half-stripi>ed boy of six years, named George Vickers, whom Ford, a stunted youth of seventeen, was striking violently with his hands. There were many bruises on the child, and blood ms oozing from one shoulder. Ford escaped from the building, but was pursued and handeil over to a constable. According to a statement by the younger boy, the other hud enticed him to the house, taken off all his clothes - except his trousers, shoes and stockings, and then commenced to thrash him. "I could not help it. I was mad. Other people upset me," muttered Ford, with hanging head, when brought before the magistrate, | and asked to explain his extraordinary conduct. Then came an import-' ant statement by Ford's mother, who seemed in groat distress. She said that her son had been very Strang® for some time. Three weeks ago ho took his sister, aged three and ahalf years out for a walk in Bishop's Park, amd came home and said slie had fallen in the river. Her body was recovered later on, and at the inwiest it was Shown that the girl was partly undressed when found drowned. The mother said that "Willie" Foixl gave evidence at the inquiry that his Kister fell through some railings into the river. A newspaper report of the inqurat was handed to Uio magistrate, who said the case seemed to ho a mystoious one. Fond, chargwl with assaulting the six-year-old boy, was remanded for inquiries. He has be™ employed as a van boy.