THE KILBIRNIE CRUELTY CASE. THE HEALEYS ON TRIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 62, 15 March 1898, Page 5

THE KILBIRNIE CRUELTY CASE. THE HEALEYS ON TRIAL.

At yesterday afternoon's sitting of thd Supreme Court in the investigation of the charge against John and Margaret Healey of ill-treating their nephew, Albert Heni'3l Green, John Hutcheson, M.H.R., gave further; evidence that the boy had frequently had meals at his house, as he complained oC being ill-fed. The boy's physical condition certainly declined as a result of his stay with, the Healeys. William Kershaw, milkman, deposed that in January last year some of his neighbours at Kilbirnie drew his attention to the boy Green, who was crying. He seemed to have been badly thrashed, as there were red; marks on his back and arms as from a recent thrashing, and black ones as from au earlier beating. He took the boy to the police station, and a constable went to Kilbirnie to make enquiries. Witness was also of opinion that the boy's condition altered for the worse after he came to stay with the accused. He was at work^as early as 5 o'clock in the morning, and was often about* in wet weather without sufficient clothing. Ellen Sievers, a neighbour of the Healeys,, on two occasions heard noises as of a person being punished coming from the direction of the H«aleys\ About two years ago sha heard the sound of blows aui a boy's voica screaming aud calling "Murder!" She called out to Mrs. Healey to let the boy alone, and was told to "mind her own business," aud that the boy would get as much again when his uncle came home. Last January she heard a boy getting .1 severe thrashing from Mr. Healey, who. called him a young scoundrel. The lad came out into view and began to do hig work, whereupon Healey attacked him again. Afterwards the boy showed her marks on his back and arms where he had been beaten. Ellen Ann Bonford, dressmaker, lived opposite the Healeys up till last December. She had heard at different times shrieks aud cries of " Murder," and other noit.es, coming from Healey's house. Once she heard tha boy Albert screaming in the night as if ha were being beaten, and on across t» the gate she beard him call out " Oh, don't hurt me," or something to that effect. Sha saw him take a loaf of bread out of tha baker's cart one day and hide it under tha trees. Sarah Ann Claridge, of Kilbirnie, recolo lected two occasions on which the boy Bertia was thrashed with severity. He was often beaten at all times of the day and night, aud was very ill-clad. Often she gave him food. He got much thinner while he was with tha Healeys. The Court at 5 o'clock adjourned until this morning. To-day's Proceedings. To-day, Annie Jorgensen, who lived a short distance from the Healeys, deposed that on the 21st June she found the boy Albert Green in tears by the beach at Kilbirnie. He made a complaint to her, and she sent him to her own house, where ha stayed for the night. Next morning sha took him back to Mrs. Healey, and asked her not to let his uncle beat him. Mrs. Healy replied that if he was a good, boy his uncle would not beat him. Sha added that he was a bad boy and had stolen money, but witness did not believe it. Sha told the boy that he need never go without food or shelter, as her house was open to him. To Mr. Wilford— She did not think that this encouraged the boy to think that there was always a second home open to him. Dr. Cahill said he examined the boy on the 19th July at his surgery. There were small bruises on one arm and one leg which, might have been caused by a strap or stick. The boy was untidy, and fairly thin. To Mr. Wilford— The boy appeared to be naturally thin. The injuries which ha found were not of a character to indicate severe ill-treatment. Bernard Hausen recollected hearing a boy being thrashed at the Healeys' house on 18to January, 1897. The sounds lasted for about a quarter of an hour. On Jubilee Day ha met Mrs. Healey coming over the Kilbirnie hill with the three boys. Bertie had a dogchain fastened to his arm, and Mrs. Healey told witness that she had caught the boy, and, being afraid to let him go, had fastened him to herself. Mary Kennedy stated that the hoy had once shown her bruises on his arms and shoulders of different ages. Mrs. William Heginbotham had also seen bruises on the boy's shoulders and arms, and had seen the boy carting heavy loads oC gravel from the beach. He seemed to never do anything else but work, and his bodily condition altered for the worse, particularly towards the last part of his stay with tha Healeys. F. J. W. Fear, engineer, stated that whea the boy Albert first went to live with tha Healeys he was one of the best behaved boys in the place. Later on, he wore a haugdog, wretched, and starved appearance, as if ha was never properly fed. His physical conditiou altered for the worse. Since tha, police had taken charge of him his appear* ance had much 'improved. The hand-cart, produced was not the one in which he had seen the boy dragging gravel, or if it was it; had been cut down. Emanuel A. Simpson, tailor, said thato previous to July last he had frequently noticed the boy Albert hauling gravel, thai loads sometimes being so heavy as to require assistance up the hill. The cart used appeared to be bigger than the one now in Court. Sergeant Briggs, of the Mount Cook station, said the boy had been under his charge since Sth July last, and during that time bad been regular in his attendance at school and strictly honest, though he had had ample opportunity of being otherwise. I The lad had improved physically. When he came to the station all his pockets wera sewn up. He had marks upon him, but they were not of a very serious nature. Hugh Hutcheson deposed that the handcart in Court was about balf the size of >tha one the boy Albert was accustomed to usa for dragging gravel. He had several times seen the boy locked up in the Healeys* house. Albert Green (recalled) said the cart in Court had been made smaller. The shaft 3 and wheels were the same, but the box had been made shorter and cut down. Richard Sievers also stated that the handcart used by Albert was larger than the 0119 in Court. This closed the case for the Crown. Mr. Wilford said he proposed to call evidence. It was admitted that the lad had beeu beaten on several occasions, but not so severely as had been suggested by the witnesses for the prosecution. It was a trick ot the boy's to cry out and scream " Murder !'* before his uncle and aunt went near him. Frederick Green, brother of the boy Albert, who now adopted the name of Healey, deposed that Albert was not a truthful or honest boy. Had caught him takiug a shilling out of his (witness's) pocket, and yet he had denied it. Bex-tie owned to giving away two of Mrs. Healey^ fowls, and witness believed he was whacked for it. His brother had his breakfast and tea with the rest of the family, and was never stinted as to food. Witness was away at midday. Had seen Bertie thrashed by his uucleHwith a dog-collar. He would scream before he was touched. Ha had never seen his aunt administer a thrashing. Remembered Mrs. Sievei'S once calling out to Mrs. Healey that she ought to be ashamed of herself. That was when witness got a whack with a broom and made a noise about it. The only gravel carted was for the f owlhouse and path. The handcart in Court, was the one used, About

4in had been cnt off the end, as it Avas rptten. The sides had not heen cni. down. Bertie had no need to <jo without his boots or proper clothing. Moiv than once he ran away from home, but was not punished for it. He once saw Mrs. Realey leading Albert with a chain around his wrist. He had been aAAay tho previous nitfht, and she did not want to lose him asjaiu. To Mr Gully— He went, to school for about 18 months after coming to the colony, and then went to work, and was away all day. The assertion made that Bertie started work as earl}' as 5 o'clock in the morning was not correct. They got iip at about 6in the summer time aud half-past (3 in the Avinter. It was not a fact that nis brother Avas frequently thrashed. Once he was thrashed three night in succession for stopping away from school. He was never thrashed uaked ■with an oxhide whip, or beaten after 9 o'clock at night. Had known the boy to be sent down to the hotel at night for liquor. John M. Healey, the malejj accused, gave a list of the boy Albert's mis-deeds. He had found it necessary to thrash all the boys, but Albert was the only one who gave an} r trouble. He usually beat shim with a small dog-collar, but never stripppd him. The boy seldom made much noise when "being thrashed, but would cry before the punishment was"adminislered. There was always plenty in the house for the boy to eat. He got into mischief at home two or' , three times a week, and wjis frequently thrashed at school for misbehaviour. The boy had plenty of clothes — three suits. Cross-examined- -He had received money from England for the keep of the boys — £30 for each of them. Bertie was not beaten more than IS or 19 times during the Avhole period he had been with them. In his opinion the boy was not overworked. He only tied him up once— that ■was one morning after breakfast, aud Avitxiess told him that he was to remain there all day. Though tied he had plenty of latitude to move in. To Mr. Wilford — On the occasion of the tying up, Mrs. Healey understood that she ■was to release the boy at lunchaiinie. (Left sitting.)