ORPHAN DRUDGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 July 1924, Page 13

ORPHAN DRUDGE.

SHOCKINGLY IMPOSED UPON. SLAVERY AND SQUALOR.. Tire strange story relating to the career of an orphan girl who had been taken in charge by people living at a seaside resort was recounted by Policewoman Davidson, at Melbourne the other night, says the Sydney Sun. On. Monday, she said, Police. Headquarters received a complaint, and she went, with the local sergeant, to a certain house. Going round the back they came across a. woman whom they wished. to interview. The woman, looking afraid, attempted to hide, but Miss Davidson prevailed upon her to stay. The woman looked a wreck. Her hands were as hard as nails; her hair was matted, and her appearance dirty. She was wearing a man’s boots, an old ragged dress, with a. bag apron, and a two-piece bathing gown as underclothing. Miss Davidson asked her to show her where she slept. 'Hie woman took her to a. shed at the rear of the house. Tn it was a.n old stretcher, minus pillowslips and sheets, which was covered with old worn-out blankets and coats. Around the walls were numerous cracks, stopped up with paper. The woman told the police that she had put the paper in to prevent the wind from coining in. She said she had been with people for 17 years, and had not received a penny. She cut the wood and dug the garden, in addition to doing all the work about the bouse. Her breakfast mostly consisted of bread and dripping. She further said that she wa« ordered by the man and his wife not to speak to anyone, and was never allowed to leave the house, and she was afraid to go against them.

\ voman > who was very lame, said that some years ago she fell down and hurt her thigh. She had never received medical treatment for it and at present it was very painful ihe woman was taken to- the city, and when she came out of the station she exclaimed to Miss Davidson : “Oh ! isn t there a crowd of people about!” >r r had teen in the city, she said for more than 15 years. She was taken to a home,- given a hot hwfli and fitted out with clean clothhig