AN INHUMAN SON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1507, 18 May 1886, Page 3

AN INHUMAN SON.

A heartless scoundrel named Patrick Minogue, a farmer, has been convicted at Geelong assizes, of inhuman treatment of bis mother. She had been married twice, the second time 'to a man named Kelly, and both her husbands were kilted by accidents. The woman afterwards, in a fit of despondency, attempted to cut her throat, and was plicod in Ararat Hospital. She was subsequently examined by doctors and pronounced sane. She went to live with berson, Miscgue. She bad two deposit receipts for £2BO, which her son's wife took from her and gave to her band. Snbseqnently Mrs Kelly was treated with great cruelty. She was kept fastened up in a room which contained as furniture only a bed and clothes-horse. She frequently complained she was starved, and sometimes picked seeds out of the mattress to satisfy her hunger. She was allowed out occasionally, at intervals of from three to nine days. She wag frequently gagged snd forced into a straight jacket, thrown down, and otherwise illused. On one occasion she was thrown on the bed by the prisoner and his wife, which caused an injury to her back, and a flow of blood frem her mouth. The prisoner's wife gave her water to drink which was used in blueing clothes, and she was obliged to drink other filthy fluids. A servant girl who lived with prisoner said the prisoner placed a straight jacket on Mrs Kelly several times during witness' stay, and Mrs Minopue was in the habit of gagging her. The prisoner himself gagged her twice and left her lying on the floor. The jury, after a short retirement, found prisoner "Guilty," and Judge Holroyd, in summing up, commented severely on the prisoner's inhumanity, and passed a sentence upon him of six years with hard labor,