A Shocking Case of Cruelty

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 25, 13 August 1889, Page 3

A Shocking Case of Cruelty

(per united press association.) Chhistchubch, August 10. A man named Abbott, residing near St. ; Albans, stands accused of the mopt outrageous cruelty to a child ever heard of in this hemisphere. The child is said by the police to be a ward of Abbott, and has been in his charge now about twelve months. During this time the child has been systematiu^ly/starved, UL treated, and punished with the most cruel severity. As she appeared a*, the police station last night she presented a moßt pitiable sight. Though said to be only 13 years of age her face was that of a girl of 17, prematurely old. and wrinkled. Her body was marked in various places with the signs of the violent treatment she had received. There were bare patches on her head where handf uls of hair had apparently been torn out. indicating still more abominable handling. She gave full rticulars o f tae brutal treament she had received, assigning the principal cause of the cruelty to Mrs Abbott, who had dragged her by the hair and held her head under water for a lengthened period, and deprived her of food and otherwise maltreated her during the past six months. George and Alexandria Frances Abbott were arrested last night on a Siaree of wilfully iailing to provide Esther Pondrich, an orphan girl adSited by them, fourteen years of age, with necessary food, thereby endangering tor- life. The evidence collated against them is of a most Sting nature, showing a length. Ined course of starving and brutality. SSrwS ***• c girl ?m a state.: She is convalescent ■'■■■■■'>■ J^^^:: ■•