MONKEY ATTACKS BABY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1934, Page 2

MONKEY ATTACKS BABY

PARENTS AWARDED DAMAGES

LONDON, April 24

An attack by a doctor’s pet monkey on a neighbour’s baby was described at Bow County Court yesterday. The child’s father, William Richard Brooks, of Eatington-road, Whippscross was awarded £2O general damages, three guineas special damages for a doctor’s bill, and costs, against Dr G. de Ry nek, of Ecclesbourne, War-wick-road, Leyton. It was stated that while Jill Brooks, aged three and a. half months, was in her perambulator in the garden, -Mrs Brooks heard a scream, and saw the monkey on her baby’s face. She picked up the baby, and the monkey, she alleged, attempted to “fly for me.” A neighbour said the same monkey once bruised his child with its teeth; and another neighbour said when his wife hustled the animal off a perambulator, where it was trying to take socks off a child, it snarled and tore his wife’s stockings.

Judge Owen Thompson, K.C., expressed the opinion that the monkey came within the definition of a “wild animal,” and was kept in captivity at the owner’s risk. Dr William Cuthbertson, of Essexroad, Leyton, said when he examined Jill she was shy and nervous. Nervous shock could be produced by the monkey's attack.

EMOTIONAL SHOCK

Cross-examined, Dr Cuthbertson said the nervousness was not due to any physical injury, but to emotional shock. A baby three months old was capable of being shocked by what it saw. A baby was born with the instinct that a monkey was a strange animal, and an enemy. A baby would not receive shock from a gollywog, a doll, or a. dog, because of the person introducing them. Dr T. Hargreaves, of Addison-road, Walthamstow, said after the monkey’s attack he found the child suffering from shock, and bruises on the eyelids. forehead and nose. There was evidence that the child’s mouth had been interfered with. The effect on the child's nervous qualities was that it was frightened and alarmed at. the slightest disturbance or noise, but this was improving. For the defence. Dr Harold Avery, of Harley-street, an honorary physic-: ian at Queen's Hospital for Children,: Hackney-road, said he examined Jill that day. She was now perfectly fit. and seemed, very happy, contented and placid. A baby of three months could riot appreciate what it saw to the extent that, the effect of fright would bo lasting on its nerves. Dr Joint Herbert I'lirrunghs, of Woodford Green, senior medical ref- < ieo for tic- 'l'ran.sport Board, said lie did no; think a child of three months could suffer from mental shock from what it saw. Mr H. H. Maddocks. for Dr de Rynck. said in November Mrs Brooks was willing to settle the case for £1 8/-, including solicitor's fee. He contended, that no harm had been done to the baby.

Judge Owen Thompson said from the medical evidence it. did not seem to him that, the baby had suffered any permanent injury, or the damages might, have been very serious indeed. He thought the baby had been through a. very bad period owing to the monkey's attack, suffering mentally and causing anxiety to its mollier.