ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 6

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

FATHER IN THE DOCK. •SEQUEL TO A RUNAWAY TRAGEDY. Auckland, Aug. C. The death of a boy named Trevor Calder, agod 7. on June 1U last, after his admittance to the Auckland Hospital guttering J'rorn the effects of exposure due to hiding in a shed, allegedly to escape punishment by his father, had a sequel in the Police Court when the father, Angus Calder, was charged under the infants,' life Protection Act, before Mr. Cutten, S.M., that: (1) Between January and March, 1916, when the child was 4 years of age, lie ill-treated him in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering by frequently and repeatedly dipping him into a bath of cold water, and holding him in water; and (2) that he ill-treated the child in the same way when 6 years of age, between October, 1918, and June, 1-919.

Chief-Detective McMahon, in outlining the case, said that the evidence at the inquest showed that the boy had remained hidden for three or four days, and when found by his father, lying in a shed, had sores on his feet and body, and was in an emaciated condition. The child had hidden through fear of his father, who had practised systematic acts of cruelty on him, after dipping him in cold water, and sometimes holding him immersed for several seconds. The chief detective said he could give two reasons only for such treatment: The father believed that the child was addicted to a certain objectionable habit liable to injure his health, and he considered that the punishment would act as a deterrent. In the second place the accused's wife had died at the birtli of Trevor, and thus Calder might consider the child responsible for the loss of his life-mate. Dr. Gould, house surgeon at the hospital, said that when the boy was admitted on June 7 his feet were severely frostbitten. There were several breaking sores on his body, and he was generally in a very low condition. His sores were septic. lie died of tetanus and heart failure.

Dr. Tressider, of Onehunga, who was called to the accused's home, said he saw the child in bed. The accused pointed to the boy, saying: "Look at the dreadful condition he is in. He ran away on Sunday night and I didn't find him until Friday morning. He has had no food." The accused seemed very upset, and remarked: "You would have thought the little beggar would have come in for food.'' The little chap's feet were black and blue with cold. They were dead. I asked the father what he had done for him, and he replied that he had fed him up and bathed him in hot water. Cross-examined, Dr. Tressider stated that in his opinion Calder was greatly concerned At the child's condition, and after finding him had done what he thought best. He told witness eh felt it his duty to punish the boy. An eleven-year-old brother of the deceased gave evidence that shortly after Trevor's return from his grandparents he was ducked by his father. The bath was usually about half-full, and the water was sometimes warm and sometimes cold. Trevor was not held under the water, "ifefore we thought of ducking him," said the witness, "we used to give him hidings." His brother often struggled and screamed and cried after being taken out. Sometimes he was dipped twice in. succession.

Tho Chief-Detective: Did Trevor ever protest against being dipped?—" Yes, he cried, 'Don't dip me. Give me a thousand hidings instead.'" The boy said his brother was ducked six times at Maugere about a month before he died. His father threatened to dip him and he ran away.

Cross-examined, the child paid that Trevor after being dipped was dried and put by the fire. o.eo(Trey Angus Calder, aged 10, gave similar evidence. After further evidence accused was committed for trial.