REVOLTING CRUELTY

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IV, Issue 705, 24 August 1882, Page 3

REVOLTING CRUELTY

An old woman named Harriet Barlow, at Lambeth, lias been committed for trial forshocking cruelty to her two grandchildren, a boy and a girl. Dr. Simmons, who examined the children at the police station, said on the boy’s head was a swelling, the result of violence ; a number of bruises nearly over the back and down to the haunch bone ; and several on the arm. On the right were marks likely to have been caused by a bite. The girl had a scar on the temple as from a cut; the marks on the left hand as from a bite, as well as bruises on the arm, and legs. There was also injury to the lower part of the body. Sergeant Dean said when the prisoner was charged she said, “I know I done it. 1 have hit them hard.” The hoy afterwards showed him a poker which he said his grandmother had struck him with. The girl, 12 years old, described the ill-treatment she had been subjected to at the hands of her grandmother, with whom she had lived since her father went to America two years ago. She did not know where her mother was. The prisoner had knocked her about with her boots and forced her head into a basin with such power as to break it and cut her head. A short time back the prisoner, because some forks werj; not properly cleaned, seized her bit it in such a way as to produce the marks shown to the doctor. She also knocked her about with a poker several times. The witness then described an assault upon her of such a nature as to be unfit for publication, and which accounted for the appearance described by Dr. Simmonds. Once prisoner took up a hot poker and said, “ I’ll burn you if you don’t mind,” and shortly afterwards put the poker to her chin, burning it. The scar she had was the result of the burn. Grandmother used to stuff handkerchief in her mouth to prevent the neighbours hearing her cries. Harriet Salsbury, a married woman, said the children had often complained to her, and at last she spoke to the police about it. On one occasion she saw the boy’s left ear had been partly pulled out of its place. Both children had complained of blows and kicks, and on one occasion she saw the girl’s mouth torn and injured, which she said had been done by the prisoner. The prisoner on being committed for trial, declared she had only punished the children because they acted badly]