Extraordinary Cruelty.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 85, 11 April 1894, Page 4

Extraordinary Cruelty.

A BOY CHAINED UP BY HIS FATHER. KEPT IN FOR SEVEN MONTHS. Tho Melbourne Argus reportß that a case of a most extraordinary character has boen brought to light by the Kast Brunswick police, involving, on the part of a father, the infliction of remarkable cruelty upon one of his children— that is, if the boy's story, on investigation, proves woll founded. A man named James Bolton was arrested by the police upon a charge of stealing harness, and brought boforo tho local court and rnmanded for » week. Boing unable to secure bail he was removed to the Melbourne Gaol, and it was owing to this oiroumstance, and tho faot of his boing thus away from his home,-that the present case was brought to light. Boltos has a son, also liamed James, aged about 10 years, and a man named Donohue informed Constable Fennessy that tho lad was running about the place with a oimin round bis legs. Tho boy was eventually eeoured by the constable and taken to the look-up, where he told a most extraordinary story. He said that his father had had him ohaniod up for the last seven months. At first both legs were chained together, in foot, hobbled like a horse. A longer chain was afterwards obtained, and this was placed round each of his legs, and also tied round his waist with a piooe of rope to prevent its dragging about. These ohains were kept on him night and day for the whole seven months, and wore scoured with a large padlook. When the boy's father was taken to gaol the key of tho look was in his pocket, and it was only by smashing one of tho links of the chain that it was removed from the lad. During the whole of the time referred to tho boy was not allowed outside the house When' examined at tho look-up he was in a vory dirty and neglected condition, and half starved. His legs were swollen where tho chain was enolosod round them, and hardened by the constant pressure of the iron. Tho chain ia in the possession of tho police In addition to the chargo of stealing harness tho man Bolton will also be charged with or nelly ill-treating his son.