RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3961, 8 September 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAT. (Before H. Keririck, Esq.,'B3f3 :- A NEGLECTED CHILD,, ; , -^" Theresa Grannaty was charged wfth being a neglected child, and Sergeant Major O'Grady asked that she be Bent to the Orphanage. He .said the child Bad been brought to him ia a disgraceful - state on last Tuesday, and he had given her to a constable to take care-of.- He briefly stated the case, saying he had visited the house, and found r it in a dreadful dirty condition. There Was no furniture or firing, and the- only sleeping place wa3 one narrow bunk. The mother was a low prostitute, and did not iiVe care of the child. ; He asked the Bench to hear the child's statement. Theresa Grannaty said she was.seven years old, and lived wiih her mother in a house in the Haperoad. On last Saturday night a number of young lads^eaine to the house. (Witness then mentioned a number of names.)- She ; wa«-'. lying down, when one of .th,e lads put but the light, and, another put his hand on her mouth *c?' prevent her from screaming, and then attempted to assault her. She escaped from him, and gceamed out for Mrs Moran, saying.that the boy's were killing her mother. „, Mrs Moran then , came to her, when the young men ran. away. Men and boys often came to the house at nights, and she had to go to the hotels for beer for her mother and them* She was' often-hungry, and had gone to the neighbours' houses for food. •'*'" '■ MariaGould, sworn, deposed—Grannaty lived near to, her in the Hape creek. Witness bad observed the way in which she had lately, lived, and how she had treated her little child, but did .not know that she was.so.badly treated,. On last Saturday night she was awakened by hearing a child screaming.', The,noise appeared to come from Grannaty's.' After a little while the noise stopped, so she did not go oat, but drew aside the blind, and saw someone, going across V.the road with a light. On. the following Tuesday she saw the child in question playing on the top of the house She called her down, and told her she was. going to«lnke her to a person who would,, get her a better home. The child said she would be get away from home. Witness did not consider the child properly looked after, and had therefore brought her to the Sergt.-Major. Dora Moran, another neighbor, deposed that last Saturday night she heard .the child Theresa calling to her that'some boys were killing her mother. Witness went out and saw, three young men rush out of Mrs Grannaty's house.' The <?hild then came to her for a light, and said one of the, hoys had put his hand on ; her mouth, at 'which she screamed. She gave the child the light, when she went-home. She did not know the manner invjvbich Mrs Grannaty was living; had, never teen drink in her house, but had femeUit on her. The child on Sunday' came to:her for something to eatr ahj^'witne'ss 'gave her two meals. She did nbtconsider 1 the child was properly looked after.- • She had heard that Mr* Grannaty was living a lojr. life, but did not know herself. ''' .' ; ,', James Lynch, sworn, deposed—He knew Mrs Grannaty's house in. the ]9ape Creek, and was there last Saturday night in company with two other young chaps, one of whom was named Jackso^u£the other he did not know. He left abdjpnl. There was drink in the' house, but he 'did not have any. He was home by 13 o'clock., that night He did not see any one attempt to touch the child while->hft- was there, but shortly before lie left he' heard her cry out. Mrs Grannaty-; was npt sober. He went there merely asafrien'd, having known her for years. \ \^\\ Benjamin Agnew, deposed—rHe was aged 17. He was not at Mrs Graataty!* last Saturday night, - and hadnotiheeu there for a month. H« had r/ee* her several times the^worse of liquor. - •'•' ''V* Wm. Robinson deposed that he'hadol'ten passed Mrs Grannaty's house* and had frequently.seen her in a driiilren state. He was not at the ■ house' 6riSaturday night. . .'' (' ''• ' Theresa Molloy deposed that she hid sometimes spoken to Mrs Grannaty. - She knew the child, who had complained to witness of three lads ill-using her mother early last, Sunday morning.' She had heard that the child had ajkedthe neigh* bors for food. - Catherine Grannaty deposed that shej was the mother of the child in Court. She had never neglected |he child,..who, had plenty of clothes to wear, and always ' enough food,to eat. 3ue'".had, sometimes sent her for drink. , Sergt.-MajorO'Grady was about to call, other evidence, but His Worship said he had heard enough, to justify him in sending her to the Orphanage., .for seven years, where she would be : brought up in the Roman, Catholic religion. He also cautioned the mother,., saying that she had better change her manner of li»ing, or perhaps she would be brought before the Court. Court adjourned.