ALLEGED CASE OF CRUELTY AT KAITANGATA.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 218, 13 September 1878, Page 6

ALLEGED CASE OF CRUELTY AT KAITANGATA.

A case of supposed cruelty and ill-treat-ment to a girl of thirteen years of age, named Jane Hamilton, has come under our notice. From what we (Daily Times) can learn in appears that the girl mentioned had been for some time In the service of a Mrs Owen, the wife of the postmaster at Kaitangata, and on Wednesday last she secretly left the place and came by train to Duudin. She then engaged in a search for a younger brother and sister, which, however, proved ineffectual, and ultimately obtained shelter with Mrs Williamson, at the Waverly Boardinghouse. As the girl looked ill, that lady immediately sent for Dr Coughtrey, who held out no hopes of recovery, and the depositions of the sufferer were taken down before a magistrate. On Friday last Dr Coughtrey called upon Inspector Mallard with reference to a case he had in hand, that he thought would require Police interference. The same night, at 10 o'clock, the Inspector met the doctor at the Waverly Boarding-house, and took the girl's statement ; in consequence of which, and the doctor's certificate given on the following day that the recovery of the girl was very doubtful, the Inspector telegraphed to Mrs Owen, at Kaitangata, that he intended to apply to a Magistrate to take the girl's deposition, Hinder the \ provisions of " The Law Amendment Act, 1868," on Monday, and requested her to attend, or appoint some professional man to do so on her behalf. Mrs Owen did not appoint any professional man, but attended herself yesterday afternoon at the Waverly Boarding-house, where the girl lies sick, and the following deposition of Jane Hamilton was taken by Mr I. N. Watt, R.M., in the presence of the Inspector, Mrs Williamson, Mrs Owen, and Dr Coughtrey. Jane Hamilton, being sworn, saith : T am 13 years old. I was lately a [servant of Mr Owen's, at Kaitangata. I went there on the 26th June last. I left there last Wednesday, f came to Dunedin in the train by myself, and walked straight to Miss Daly's, in Filleul-street. I asked her if I could stop there that night, and she took me to look for my brother, but we could not find him ; and then I said Mrs Williamson knew me, and I knew she would keep me for the night, and then Miss Daly brought me down here, and said she would pay for, but Mrs Williamson would not take the money. I did not go straight to bed. I arrived here before 10 o'clock at night. I did not see the doctor that night, but I say him the next day. When I first went to Mrs Owen's I felt quite well and strong. About two weeks after I was taken with pains in my legs — in my thighs — and I had dreadful pains in my sides, and I never complained. The pains in my thighs and sides used to go away one day and come again, and I used to feel getting weaker. The pains never got better : they always kept coming on until lam as bad as lam now. I used to scrub and do the washing whilst the pains were on me. Sometimes I complained to Mrs Owen, and she said they were only growing pains, j used to have to cook the dinner, and go messages, and make the bed. I always made my own, and sometimes Mrs Owen would make hers. I used to wash the pots, and parry coals up stairs, and I had to scrub the office out once a month, but only scrubbed it out once ; and lots of other things. I never saw a doctor whilst I was there. I generally took my meals when Mr and Mrs Owen had theirs ; I generally took them afterwards. I had porridge and tea or coffee nearly every morning. I had my share of whatever Mr and Mrs Owen had, but I could not eat much sometimes. I had always as much jjto eat as I wanted. Mrs Owen told me to eat more, but I could not, because the pains in my chest prevented me. Mr Owen was always in his office. Mrs Owen only hit me once. There was a treacle tart, and she said I would have to eat it. 1 said I could not, the pains prevented me from eating it ; and she said, if you don't eat it I will give you a dose of castor oil. She went to get the castor oil, and then I commenced to eat it, but I could not ; and she said I would have to eat it, and hit me on the top of the head gwith the Ofcago Witness, and then she put me in my bedroom, and said she would keep me there that night ; but she took me out in the afternoon, and made be do my work. It pained my head when she hit me, but it went away again. Mrs Owen did not beat me at any other time — only that once with the newspaper. There were two small mattrasses on the bedstead, and a big one on the top. I had one double blanket and a white quilt and a sheet to cover me. I was warm enough at night, when I used to put my clothes en the top of me. I left Mrs Owen because I had such pains I could not work. I complained to Mrs Owen of the pains, and she said they were only I growing pains, and she said that all girls of my age had them. That was the only complaint I made to her. I remember carrying up a pot of cold water once, and I tripped on the front of my dress and spilled a little of the water, but not the whole; and Mrs Owen said, "Can't you carry that up yet. " I was scrubbing out the parlour, the kitchen, and the cupboards the day before I left. I left Kaitangata by the last train, at 4 o'clock. Mrs Owen cut my hair off because I was lousey. I was working all the day until I left by the train. Cross - examined by Mrs Owen : I scrubbed the office out once. I think it was the first month I was there. On the day I left, I told yoxi that I would go to my friends, and that I had friends. Before that day, I told you my grandfather would take me, bub not on that day. I am quite sure I scrubbed out the parlour and the kitchen the day before I left. It was the Otago Witness you hit me with. You often said you would have to get rid of me because of my going about with pains and I could not work. It was the pains that used to make me so slow. You told me I had told you one or two untruths the week before I came away, but not when I came away. I don't remember taking up a pot of potatoes. The pot of water I was taking up was to wash the baby. Her Jane + Hamilton. Mark. Witnessed by Millen Coughtrey.