TWO PARALYSED SONS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 197, 29 July 1924, Page 6

TWO PARALYSED SONS.

MOTHER’S AWFUL STRUGGLE. STARVING AND PENNILESS. July 18. An amazing story has been revealed through the efforts of policewomen. Behind a weedy garden at Footscray is a weatherboard house. in which lives Mrs. Williamson, a widow, and her two sons—Thomas. aged 31, and Frederick, aged 28. . * Both have been paralysed since they were a few months old. They are still really children, and have to be treated and fed as such. The elder of the two has not had a bite to eat for eight weeks. His sole diet has been soda water anj milk. Neither has ever tasted meat. Thomas, who is blind and dumb, is only about 3ft. high, and is easily lifted bodily by his mother. In an opposite bed is the other son. Although slightly heavier, he is almost in the same pitiable condition as his brother. Ho is dwarfed, paralysed, and dumb. When given a penny he claps his wan white hands with the delight of a child. For the best part of her life the widow has been nursing her sons. Several attempts have been made to have them sent to a home; but motherlove will not allow her to part with her boys. On his deathbed, her husband asked her not to let them go, and that last wish she has respected. As soon as the mother’s plight became known, a “Sun” man made investigations and blankets and clothing were arranged for.