A Horrible Case.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 July 1888, Page 3

A Horrible Case.

London, June 16. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have charged an elderly couple named George and Mary Hayes with neglecting to provide seven children committed to their care with sufficient food, clothing, fresh air and other necessaries. The story of the superintendent of the prosecuting society is that he f und the seven children in a back twelve feet square, in which there was no fresh air, but an abominable stench. Five of the children were too emaciated to walk. The inspector saw no food in the house, no carpets, no furniture, no sheets, no blankets, and no counterpanes. Two old coats had apparently served as coverings. The state of the rags found in the room cannot be described. It is enough to say their condition explained the stench. The medical evidence was that some of the children were suffering from rickets due from improper feeding, bad air, insufficent clothing, and dirt. One had a scalp complaint, and one was covered with sores. The bailiffs had been at the house. Their tale is revolting. The filth of the house completely one or two of them ; but they were able tj make some Observations of the children. One of them

saw children tied to chairs and blue with cold. Another said the male prisoner earried a couple about under his arms like poodle dogs. The inspector bore testimony to the effect that the children were “ horribly dirty.” A relieving officer put the case graphioallv thus: “Their legs were so weak that they hung and dangled about just like dolls’ legs, the toes turning round and round. Ths stench of the oot in which one of the children lay was sufficient when disturbed to pollute the air of the whole street.” The matron of the workhouse said a child 18 months of age handed over to her care weighed only 101 b. Whose children oould they be ? The female prisoner had told some of the witnesses that five came from one person believed to be now in New Zealand, and one from Birmingham. One she said came from I rance, had Royal blood in his veins, and, save the mark I must have extra care taken of him. With one child she had received £lO, with another £3, and four shillings a week. An insurance agent gwe evidence that allchildren were insured, On this evidence the inquiry before the magistrates oould only have one conclusion. The prisoners were sent for trial.