THE PECULIAR PEOPLE

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 21 November 1874, Page 3

THE PECULIAR PEOPLE

Thomas Hines, a working man residing at Woolwich, and a member of the sect called the "Peculiar People," was tried at the Central Criminal Court, London, yesterday, before Mr Baron Pigott, for neglecting to provide proper medical attendance for his child, Joseph I lines, aged two years, and thereby endangering his life. The prisoner had been committed for trial for the manslaughter Of the child,Tiut his charge was not pressed. Mr Baron Pigott, at the outset of the case, expressed great doubts whether the mere neglect to provide a sick child with medical assistance amounted to a legal offence, and he remarked that at one time it was considered that when death arose from the administration of homoeopathic medicines, it amounted to the worst description 'of manslaughter. His Lovdsbip said he would, however, hear the evidence. The witnesses for the prosecution were then examined. They admitted that the prisoner had carefully attended to the child in every respect except by not calling in medical assistance. Dr Sharp said that the death of the child arose from inflammation. He should hare employed leeches, and probably calomel, with the object of reducing the inflammatory symptoms. Jn answer to questions put by the learned judge, the witness stated that many medical men would object to the employment of calomel in such a case and homoepathic doctors would almost think it madness to employ leeches Baron Pigott, at the close of the evidence, expressed his opinion that no culpable negligence had been proved against the prisoner, and that the mere omission to call in a medical man in such a case did not amount to a criminal offence. He therefore directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was ordered to be discharged.