BRUTAL BEATINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 14

BRUTAL BEATINGS

TREATMENT OF GIRLS MAN AND WOMAN CONVICTED FATHER BENT ON VENGEANCE SET OUT WITH GUN AND KNIFE [HV TFXKGRAPJI —PRESS association] WELLINGTON. Friday The story of a man who was so angered at tho treatment his little daughters had received from a couple with whom they had been staying thnt he borrowed a rifle and went out with the expressed intention,of shooting the man and woman was told by the police in tho Magistrate's Court to-day to Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M. Charges of wilfully, ill-treating the children were brought against Joseph William Tannaliill, who pleaded guilty, and Eileen Mary Williams, who denied the charge. Later Oswald Lashford, the father of the children, was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, in that he was found at Ngahauranga by night in possession of a .303 rifle and ammunition with felonious intent, and with unlawfully procuring a firearm. It was stated by the police that Mrs. Lashford, who resided at Wallaceville, allowed her twin girls, aged six and a-half, to go to Ngahauranga, although she did not know much about tho J;wo people at whose house the children were to stay. The couple wore known as Mr. and Mrs. Tannahill. Screaming Alarmed Neighbours Neighbours became concerned because thcro was so much screaming going on. Eventually one neighbour interfered, and the assistance of the police was secured. Mrs. Lashford went to Ngahauranga and took the children away. Their father was so incensed at the condition they were in that he went out and borrowed a rifle and a butcher's knife, and set out for Ngahauranga with the expressed intention of shooting Tannahill and Williams, but was arrested before the threat was put into execution. Medical evidence was given of the bruised and beaten state of the children. Constable Bown said that Tannahill's house was in a filthy condition. There were several cats and dogs on the premises, and the place was littered with dirty clothes. The woman was in town every day and got all her messages there. He produced a strap which Tannahill had said was the one he had used to beat tho girls. In the box, Williams said she had never touched the children and did not beat her own. A boy had hit one of the girls with a stick and she tad punished him.

Cross-examined by Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach, witness said that Mrs. Lashford had suggested that she should take the children. One of the children had dragged her along the floor by the hair and had thrown a basin at her. Sub-Inspector Roach: What? A child of six and a-half? Defendant repeated her stjftement. " Vicious Treatment " The Magistrate said the evidence showed that the treatment meted out to the children could only be described as vicious. He had endeavoured to ascertain the reason for "Williams' conduct, and had concluded that the condition of her health and living had had much to do with it. In view of this he convicted her and ordered her to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, a condition being that for the first six months she should stay in the Salvation Army Home. To Tannahill the Magistrate said the evidence in his case was comparatively meagre. He had candidly admitted disciplining the girls. Tannahill was convicted and ordered to pay costs. In prosecuting Oswald Lashford, the father of the girls, Sub-Inspector Roach said that at the time he was physically " off colour," and the sight of the children's injuries had brought about a mood to kill. He had procured a rifle and four rounds of ammunition and had gone off after Tannahill and the woman, but was overtaken by Constable Joss. The Magistrate discharged defendant on the count of being a rogue and vagabond, stating that the weak condition of the man and the injuries to his children could well have the effefit which had resulted. Lashford was convicted and discharged on the second count of unlawfully procuring a rifle.