A STEPMOTHER’S CRUELTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1110, 19 June 1883, Page 2

A STEPMOTHER’S CRUELTY.

Here is a brief extract-from the dismal chronicle of human cruelty'wbich day by day is unfolded-ih the hearing of London magistrates, but. to which the raaltitui dinous metropolis'pays but little hoed : “ Clara Theresa Harpour, aged eleven, living in Tottenham, was ill-treated by bar stepmother, as follows: She clothed her in rags, fed .her on bread and water for weeks at a time, and once left her with* out any food whatever. The girl was dreadfully emaciated, weighing only ,16 lbs. Her body was covered with bruises and sores, both her eyes were blackened, and her toes .were so injured that they would shortly have dropped off- Iler stepmother had branded her on fh« fc* 3 k with a hot poker: She held her a lamp to burn it, and put it in**a Jcot and squeezed it. She also dug a fork in her hand, and the mark on her hand was caused by it, She had a chillblain, and after hammering it with a hammer she put it into boiling water, and then covered it with salt and then with sugar. Every day, before she dressed it, she used to strike it with a piece of wood. She also hit her several times on the head with a cane. As a result of ‘mental sympathy ’ caused by the ill-treatment she now 'got heart disease, and will probably die. The stepmother, who was indicted at the Middlesex Sessions, was only twenty-fonr years of age, and according to the pro secutingcouasel she has treated four other step-children in the same way. If ever the vindictive theory of punishment advocated by Sir J.Fitzjames S'ephen could be justified it would be in such a case as this, but probably she will receive a inora lenient sentence than if she had picked a pocket or stolen a turnip.