SHOCKING CRUELTY TO A GUILD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9001, 14 March 1888, Page 5

SHOCKING CRUELTY TO A GUILD.

* — A tkrkible case of cruelty to a child formed the subject of an investigation at the Albury Court of Quarter Sessions, before Judge Forbes. Joseph Frauenfelder and Maria Frauenfelder were charged with maliciously causing bodily harm to a little boy, the illegitimate son of a relation of the female prisoner. The evidence went to show that in November last, the child being then 17 months old, was placed in the care of the defendants, who received £15 to maintain it. After a short time the neighbours began to notice the cruel treatment of the child. The latter used to be stood out naked in the yard on chilly mornings and washed with a hose. It was frequently left standing in a box in the yard for a length of time. It was very insufficiently clothed, and was taken out at night to sleep in a water closet with one or two flour sacks to cover it. Ultimately the child, which had originally been a strong, healthy infant, was reduced to a state of imbecility, having no power whatever over his limbs. He was, in fact, a mere idiot. Tho Government medical officer stated his conviction that the treatment described would have the effect of producing imbecility. The jury found both prisoners guilty. Joseph Frauenfelder was sentencea to 12 months' and Maria to six months' imprisonment.