BOY PUT ON THE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOY PUT ON THE FIRE.

CHARGE AGAINST FATHER.

That he bail put hi.- eight-year-old son on the kitchen fire in a fit of temper and while under the influence of drink was the extraordinary allegation recently made at Wolverhampton against a brass fitter named Alfred Lees. He was charged at the Police Court with" inflicting grievous bodily harm on the lad. The lad, however, escaped with slight injuries, and an alternative charge of assault was taken, and on this Lees was hound over for six months after a warning and advised to .sign the pledge. The hoy. Leonard Lees, told the Bench that he was sitting on the kitchen sofa at about 10 o'clock on Saturday evening after returning from a picture-house with his brother Alfred, aged 11. when his father cam" down stairs, and. catching hold of him. placed him on the fire. There was not much fire in the grate, and it, did not burn him. but his right leg caught the liar and was scorched just above the knee. lie struggled and ! shouted, and managed to escape under the table and out of the house.

Inspector Churchward said when he saw Lees at the house about midnight he was recovering from the effects of drink. At first Lees said that he had not- touched the boy. but the lad was questioned. after which the licensed said: "I did put him on the tire. 1 lost my temper/' After being cautioned he said: "I am led up and sick and tired of him." Witness said there was some tire in the grate at the time of Ins visit, but. replying to .Mr. S. It. Rhodes, who defended, said ho did not think the boy eould have got his injury through falling against the grate. He added that there appeared to be some trouble between defendant and his wife over the bov. . , The bov Alfred was called and denied that his father put Leonard on the lire, saving the lad fell against the grate. 'The chairman said the Bench wen' not surprised at defendant losing his temper at. the lad's late hours. It was the ruin of them.