A CHARGE OF CRUELTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2547, 26 August 1893, Page 3

A CHARGE OF CRUELTY.

Auckland, August 23.

A police case of much importance was commenced at the Pukekohe Resident Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, the action being one of general interest as the first case taken up in Auckland by the recently-formed Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Before Messrs Russell and Latimer, J.P.’s, Dr James Dalziel, a well-known resident of Pukekohe, and a woman named Mara Dalziel, otherwise Mara Gracie, were jointly charged on an information laid by O(nestable M’Gpyern ? eritfi tfiat they " did, op the 16th August, unlawfully beat and assault a girl named Anna Jane Dalziel, aged 24 years, by tying hep to a pqgt, beating her with a gufcvQbpiueriaiis. striking her therewith on the back- ’ ’ &0., also by striking her - n & e face'and head with the The action was taken by - xl q police on information given °y ' prosecutrix. After the information had been laid Inspector Hickson laid the case before the Auckland branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, with the result that the society decided to tender the police legal assistance for the prosecution. Accordingly, Messrs F. E. Bauma and W. Thorne, honorary solicitors to the society, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr G. N. Brassey for the defence. Defendants pleaded not guilty. Mr Ban me addressed the court for the prosecution. He gave detailed particulars of the alleged assault on the girl and stated that for some time past the two defendants had subjected prosecutrix to cruelty. On the occasion in question the girl was beaten so as to leave marks on every part of her body. The girl had come out to Auckland from England two or three years ago. The girl was not present, but there was room to believe she had been coerced and kept away from court. Mr Baume called for the prosecution Anna Dalziel, but there waa uft appearance of the witness. Mr Baume said the defence had endeavoured to obtain a written statement from the girl before the magistrate. Mr Hudson Williamson said Anna Dalziel did not intend to appear in court against her father. The girl had told him her first complaint to the police had been hasty. Constable McGovern deposed that when he saw the girl the day after the assault her face was much cut and disfigured. The girl told witness her back and stomach were sore after the heating, and she could barely walk. She stated ihat her father and, JHw Dalziel whipped her severely with a tawse. Dalziel told him that Mya, Dalziel beat the girl. Mrs Dalziel brought him a cat-o’-uine tails. The girl’s only reason for absenting herself was to wait until her injuries were healed. The girl also said that a few days previous to this beating she had got 500 lashes with another tawse. Despite strong opposition by the defence, the Bench granted a warrant for the arrest of the girl in order to obtain her evidence. The case waa adjourned till next Wednesday. _____