A SAD CASE OF PARENTAL NEGLECT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4184, 5 August 1892, Page 2

A SAD CASE OF PARENTAL NEGLECT.

Hughes' Children Before the Court, At ihe Fahiatua R.M. Court on Tuesday, Thos. Hughes was charged with deserting his four children, Margaret Honor, Laura Ann, Alice Maud, and Mabel Floretta, whose ages ranged from eix to twelve years. Accused pleaded not guilty. Constable Cooper said this was a case brought under section 16 of the Destitute Persons Act. Accused had lost bis wife about a year ago and directly after took up with a woman who had treated the children in a most oruel and inhuman manner, The place in which the children hud lived was destitute of both furniture and bedding, A more deplorable case had never come under his notice, Their 1 daily bill of fare wa3 bread-and-dripp-ing and water.

James O'Brien, being sworn, said

he knew the acoused, who had been a neighbour of his for the past three or four months. Had seen accused's children about his house several times, and they had been into his house, Had taken charge of the children several times because they had nothing to eat. They were half-starved and covered with vermin, The woman who looked after them used to ill-use and starve them. Their allowance was »small loaf of breadj which was supposed to last the four two days, Accused bad been away for a month, On two ocoaßions during this time the woman had been away for two or three days. The woman was as bad a character as could be, and quite unfit to have charge of children. Agnes O'Brien, wife of last witness, deposed that tho children had been badly treated tor the whole five months they had lived next door to her. When the woman Saunders

went away she told witness to give them two pieces of bread, with dripping, if they could get it for nothing, and a drink of water. Wont into the house a fortnight ago. The house

contained nothing but two or three boxes and a stretoher. The children had for a bed a bag of grass seed and

a dirty bed, with two pieces of dirty blanket. There was not enough altogether to cover an infant. The woman was always beating and illusing the children, Mrs Willonghby deposed that she knew the accused, who had lived next door to ber for three or four months. The children during that time had been neglected and left without food. For the past month Lizzie Saunders had had oharge of them. Hughos had not been home for a month. The woman .Saunders beat and kiolted the children repeatedly, Bettha Printer deposed that she knew accused only two well, His ohildren wero her step sisters, she was sorry to say, The children when thoy came to her house last Monday were " lousy from beginning to end." Witness produced the rags that had covered the children, and said they had not had a change of clothing for fire month.

job Vile deposed that he had inspected the house after the ohildren had been taken away. Had been shown a mattress that had been used by the ohildren, and it was anything but a deairablo bed. Went to Mrs 1 Printer's aud foand she had cut off the childrens' hair, They were in a terrible Btate of filth.

Henry Knight deposed that he had taken possession of the house occupied by accused's family last week, The place was neither clean nor fit for habitation. The lost witness had sliown him-the room in .which the ohildren had been sleeping. The bed clothing consisted of nothing but rags, The place was not fit for human habitation.

Acoused was then sworn, and stated

that while at home he had looked for work which lie had found at Bunnytborpe, and had been working there sinoe. When he left home the children bad plenty to eat and drink. Had instructed tho woman in oharge of the children to sellacheffonwr and part of the orockery till she heard from him. Sho came to him with one child, oloan, well-dressed and properly clothed. He asked her what she had done with the children and she replied that she had 'left them with Mrs O'Brien. The next thing ho heard was that Mrs Printer had taken charge pf the chil : dren. Had telegraphed a reply to Constable Cooper asking him to ar< rest Mrs Printer for the ahduotion of the children,. He might say that he had been in Pahiatua for six years and that the phildren had been well cared for during that time. It was because the three women who had given evidenco wa his " W enemies" that the case had been brought. Had he known there was anything wrong he woujd have been down here and rectified it at once. Was quite prepared to take the children and look after them. They had been looked after while he had been with them, Cqnstable Cooper had been persistently qpposgd to him ever since he had been in Pahjatua. To Constable Cooper ; Did not know the woman was a bad character. Had not picked her up in the precincts of the Club Hotel, His Worship said he would deal with the children before dealing •with thecharge against accused. The children were then brought

before the Court. Constable Cooper said the evidence in this case was the same as the last, He would ask tbat the youngest children bo committed to ah' industrial sobpol. Mrs printer was prepared to aidop't Ihe'eideat girl. Ho would also ask for an order against the father for maintenance, His Worabip'Eaid he would require evidence before dealing with the children, and the witnesses in the viqaji oase'wcro recalled. A f ter heariiig eyidence,' big Wbpbip made an , order fop a'cciised to pay'fis per week I towards t'b,e support' of each child, the three youngest lo be committed to the Burnbam Industrial School, The tirst payment to be made on the 16th. His Worship said accused seemed able to support the woman, but bis tirst duly was to his children. This was the most disgraceful case that had ever come before him, His Worship gave the eldest child into the ciißtotty pf 'Mr printer— Pahialm Slur.' " : '