Telegraphic.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3280, 12 August 1889, Page 2

Telegraphic.

Outrageous Cruelty to a Child.

OimisToiiUKCH, August 10. A man named George Abbott, residing near St Albans, stands accused of the most outrageous cruelty to a child ever heard of this hemisphere. The child is ssW by the police to be a ward of Abbott, and has been in his chnrgo now about twelvo months, During this time the child has been systematically starved, illtreated, and punished with the most cruel severity, As she appeared at the police station last night she presented a most pitiable sight. Though said to bo only 13 years of age her face was that of a girl of 17, prematurely old and wrinkled, Her body was marked in various places with tljo signs of the violent treatment she had received, There were baro patches on her head where handfuls of hair had apparently been torn out, indicating still morSjf* abominable handling. A gentleman ' who saw tho child, and who has wandered far and wido through East End slums, said ho never set eyes on a worse caso in tho London slums, The matter is now in tho hands of tho police.

Two representatives of the Lyttelton Times visited tho victim of j l£ assault, and found her emaciated aid bruised, but somewhat restored through tho careful attention sho tecoivedat St Catherine's home, whero tho police removed her, She gave full particulars of the brutal treatment she bad received, assigning the principal cause of the cruelty to Mrs Abbott, who hud drugged her by the hair and held her head under water for a lengthened period, and deprived her of food and otherwise maltreated her during the pastsix months. Marks of violence are depicted all over the body, limbs and head.

, Latbh. George and Alexandria Frances Abbott wore arrested last night on iia charge of wilfully failing to provid& Esther Pondricb, an- orphan girlv A adopted by them, fourteen years of " age, with necessary food, thereby endangering her life, The evj-Jenco collected against them is of a most revolting naturo showing a lengthened course of starvingand brutality. Pail was refused, Tho girl is in a4siy weak state. She convalescent, but not out of danger.

Monday, The B.M. Court wag crowded to excess to-day and surrounded by hundreds of people, when the charges of cruelty to a child, Esther Ponditcb, was called on against tho Abbotts, Dr Symes stated that the child was unable to attend, Ho could give details of her condition, saying sho was improving an d might attond next we® Tho police obtained a remand till next Monday. In reply to the Bench Abbot said Mr Garrick promised to appear for him. • Mr Garrick, however, was not presents Bail was allowed, prisoners to find two sureties each of £l5O, each prisoner, £COO in all. On leaving Court tho prisoners wero by hundreds of spectators, wlifc hooted them as far as tho police f depot, a distance of nearly half a mile.

The Eaiiway Commissioned at Work.

Westpoht, Monday, ' Public dissent is being manifested hero at the action of the Railway Commissioners in calling upon Iho district uiimitgcr, and ilic hlatioliuiastei' to resign, Both officers have left the service, The grounds of complaint against them cover the collision which recently occurred on tbo line and soma oilier allnge.l h reßc i, 0 f departmental tub, ' :

Bislioi) Harper. Ciißisicuußon, August 11, Bishop Harper tendered his resignation, that being the 83rd anniversary of his eouseorntion. Two Men Drowned,' Nelson, August 11. A settler named Thomas, who resided at Waimea West, close to tlio sea, left Nolson Haven about 4 o'clock this morning in a bout, together with his sou- n-li\\v named Haynes, the two intending to proieed home at daylight this morning. The boat was discovered about a mile from the entrunco she having been capsized. Search parties have been out to-day and found some things whfoh were in the bout, as well an a hffjQ belonging to one of tlio men. It is not thought possible that the men could have reached shore and, ao far, they have not been found, The night was squally, and a heavy swell was running at the head of the Bay, Both men were married and havo families,

A Child Drowned. Wellington, Mtroday. John H. Moore, a child two years and nine months old, a eon of a farmer at Makikihi, was drowned in sheep dip near his father's residence. Illegal Raffling. Gisbornk, Monday, ' .J, H, Aislabio, Robert Wake, Winter, Hamon, and J. Dalane were at tho Police Court with instigating and taking part in a raffle for tho racehorse Fit/, James. Aislabio was fined £5 and the others £1 each.