ALLEGED ILLTREATMENT OF A GIRL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 326, 13 October 1908, Page 8

ALLEGED ILLTREATMENT OF A GIRL.

THE DUNEDIN CASE. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (BY TKLEGRAHI—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) □uncdin, October 12. The chargo against Charlotte Elizabeth Smith and George Eihvard Smith, of having wilfully ill-treated a young girl in such a manner as to cause her unnecessary suffering, was continued to-day in the Police Court. ; The girl's father stated that when she left homo she was healthy and strong, but when sho came back home she was practically a physical wreck. After her return ho examined her, and the lower part of her body was so discoloured that ho would not have thought she was born of whito people, lhe marks were such as flogging would liavo caused. Tho girl had not been very obedient at home, but he know nothing of things sho had done which had been revealed in cross-examina-tion. ■, 01 The girl's mother also gave evidence, oho saicf sho had punished her daughter for telling untruths, but very seldom. The girl was never allowed a great deal of liberty, and was well behaved and a good girl. Detective Ward said tho. male accused said tho girl's story was practically true, except that it was grossly exaggerated. _ Accused also said the girl was nil awful liar. Iney informed witness that the girl had been discovered to be ,in a certain condition. ■J' 10 male accused handed witness a letter written by them, and which they said they proposed sending to the stipendiary magistrate, iho lotter, which covers forty-thrco pages, was handed to tho magistrate. IJoth accused reserved their defence, ana were committed for trial. Bail was fixed for tho-male accused, self in £150 and two suretics of £7o each; for the female accused, self in £50 and two sureties of £25 each, or one of £50.