CRUEL STEPMOTHER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 3 April 1923, Page 5

CRUEL STEPMOTHER

BURNT BOY’S FINGERS

TWO MONTHS IN GAOL

A brutal method of punishing her stepson was, according to a Police Court case heard in Adelaide, adopted by Mrs .Beatrice Hchir, of Chapelstreet, Glen Osmond. On March 2, when she was requested by liis schoolmaster to administer punishment to him for having stolen eight-pence from tho teacher’s desk, Mrs Hchir replied in a letter to the headmaster that she would punish tho boy, and sho enclosed eiglitpenco in restitution. Subsequently sho took tho lad, and holding his lingers over a lighted candle, burnt eight of them, as she said, to represent tho eight pennies which she hv.t stolen. Tho boy was severely burnt and suffered a great deal of pain. lie was sent to bed without tea and to school tho following morning without breakfast. Moreover, Mrs Hchir refused to allow him to put bandages around the blistered fingers. A policewoman stated that when she interviewed defendant tho latter said sho thought she was quito justified in having done what she had to tho boy. Tho magistrate, in sentencing tho woman to two months’ imprisonment, said that sho did not appear to bo in any way sorr yfor what sho had dono, but seemc dto kavo attended iu a spirit of antagonism. There was no oxcuso for such a cruel method of punishment. Tho maximum penalty was 12 months’ imprisonment o r a fine of £IOO, or both. Accused received tho' sontonco without showing any emotion.