His Children Starved

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

His Children Starved

rwas alleged in a prosecution at Doncaster, England, tkat a child was driven by hunger to eat scraps which had been thrown out for a dog, and to pick food from dustbins. The father, John A. Rohson, of Denaby, Yorkshire, was sent to prison for six months on a charge of neglecting his children. On a further charge of 'attempted false pretences he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, to run concurrently with the other sentence. The chairman told him he was "the most despicable man who had ever stood here and tried to look innocent." The case against his wife, Mrs. Ivy Robson, was adjourned, it being stated she was in a nursing home. The whole family, husband, wife and two children, were declared to he living in one bedroom containing a double bed. Neighbours had given the children food and clothing. On one occasion, said Mr. W. F. Bracewell, for the N.S.P.C.C, one of the children was seen to take the remains of a Yorkshire pudding from a dustbin, and on another to pick up some pork rind thrown for a dog. One of the boys had been reported to the police for theft, but Mr. Bracewell did not suppose there would be any proceedings, because it was fairly obvious that he had been driven to it by hunger. The children had been out in the snow in rubber pumps. Robson told the magistrates he had provided plenty of food, but said there was a shortage of clothes. He admitted the attempted false pretences, which he said were due to hunger.