A PAINFUL CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1715, 3 July 1883, Page 2

A PAINFUL CASE.

« . Seroeant McUovern yesterday made apnlication to the Resident Magisti.ite, sitting in the court at Hamilton, for an order to commit a little boy named Rysdale, aged seven years, to the Industiial Home. He explained that some time ago the mother of the boy died, and the father handed him, together with a baby, over to the care of a woman named Elizabeth Wall, wife of Edward Wall, a labourer residing near No. 1 Bridge. For some time past the police had been receiving anonymous letters concerning the manner in which the little boy was being treated by Mrs Wall. On going to Mrs Wall's cottage he found the accounts had not been exaggerated. The boy had to all appearances been shame! ully ill-used, and hence he made rhe present application. His Worship, after seeing the boy, at once made the necessary older, whereunon Mrs Wall commenced to pour foith a tot rent of abuse at tho in.igistr>te, who told her that if she did not behave hciself the remaining child would also be taken from her. At this announcement siio became furious, and dared his Worship to do any thing of the sort. Mr lN T ortheroft direethe police to lock Mrs Wall up till the afternoon, when he would have herlnought up on a charge of contempt of com t. A few hours' incarceration had the desired effect, and when at three o'clock the offender was placed in the dock, she e\-pie^-sed her sorrow for what she had said, and begged to be let off. His Worship severely cautioned and discharged her. The 'little boy Rysdale is really an object of pity. The poor little fellow's face is covered with bruise*, evidently inflicted with a heavy blunt instrument, while he has a bruise on his left sule which is clearly the result of a kick. He, moreover, is timid and fiightened, and shrinks from strangers, crying at the oxpiession of a kind word. When we wiw him yesterday afternoon he was somewhat improved. It seems a pity that such inhuman treatment as the unfortunate child has beeu subjected to cannot meet with its proper recompense, but in the absence of any evidence the police are powerless, as tue woman accounts for eveiy sore and bruise in the most ingenious fashion.