STARVED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18197, 16 September 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

STARVED TO DEATH.

**> j INVALID GIRL'S FATE. A tragic story of an invalid dangliter ( being slowly starved to death by her par-' i ents was told at Warwick Assizes recently, . In the dock were William Chattaway, 56, a brewer's carter, and his wife Elkn, both charged with the manslaughter of Elaie Chattaway, aged 25. « It was stated that the girl Elsie was formerly a domestic servant, but five years ago she returned home with an attack oj rheumatism. She remained at home and never went out of the house. Finally she was placed in a small bedroom and was kept there the whole of the time. She was not even visited by members of the family other than her mother. There were five people in the house. A brother had not seen her for 12 montfjl although he slept in an adjoining, bedroom and passed the door every day. Her father had not seen her for six months. She was in charge of her mother and a servant maid. The day before she d'ed her parents got frightened and telephoned for the doctor. It was not until then" that her emaciated condition and filthy surroundings were discovered. Although the girl's height was sft. Bin. she weighed only 3st. 131b. Dr. Spencer, of Alcester, said the body was in a terrible condition. The young * woman's fatßer and mother were very respectable people. In sentencing 1 the father and mother to five years' penal servitude each, Mr. Justice McCardie said he had no doubfc they desired to rid themselves of their invalid daughter. In his opinion ther« would have Ibeen ample evidence to estab* lish a charge of murder.