FATHER CHARGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 20

FATHER CHARGED

THE ASHING OF SON WEALS ON BODY ALLEGED CASE FOR THE DEFENCE COURT RESERVES DECISION Evidence of weals on a boy's body that, allegedly indicated a severe thrashing was given in the Police Court, yesterday when Alfred A\illiam H nil Astlo appeared 011 summons before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., charged with assaulting his son, William George Astle, aged 11, on March 11. The charge was denied by accused, who was represented by Mr. Yialoux. SubInspector Flanagan prosecuted. The boy gave evidence that he had run away seven times because his father gave him beatings and because ho did not like his school. Ho had received many thrashings from his father, who placed him across a bed, holding his hands up behind bis back, while he was struck on the bare skin with a thick cane about 20iu. long. Witness said that after the last thrashing, 011 March 11, he ran away from school and walked to Manurewa, a distance of about 15 miles. He went to the home of foster parents. Welfare Officer's Evidence i Cross-examined, the child denied ever 1 telling his mother he had fallen from a train, and said his mother never stopped his father from beating him. He I added that be was twice punished at ; school because his mother sent notes to I the headmaster.

Tim senior child welfare offcer in Auckland, John Stanley Cupit, said the bo\* hud been in the care of the State and an inmate of the home at Owairako lor some years. About two years ago ho was allowed out on licence to live with foster parents, but he later went, to live, at his own home, from which he ran away to return to his ioster parents. As a result ot that he was returned to tlie boys home. "When he was brought back bv a woman officer on March 16 my attention was drawn to three or lour bad weals across the lower portion of his back," witness continued. "The boy looked so frail and the bruises so cruel that 1 decided to have the matter investigated. He is not an easy boy to control, but we have not found it necessary to give him corporal punishment."

Dr. C. K. A. Coldicutt said ho examined the boy on March 16, and found his body bruised and scarred, so that blood must have been drawn at the time of his being subjected to an unduly severe thrashing. A eano could have caused the injuries.

Case for the Defence Opening the defence, Mr. Vialoux said that having due regard for the long history of the case, the anxiety caused to 'the boy's parents by his running away, and the necessity for putting him under strict supervision, the boy was deserving of severe punishment. He was in need of some correction, and no one was in a better position to estimate the amount of punishment than a parent. Moreover, the boy was a devout liar, counsel i added, and it was not until after some j deliberation that accused thrashed him. i Alice May Astle, wife of accused and j mother of the boy, said the child's ' habits caused her endless anxiety. He j never ran away from home, but always j from school. ! In reply to the magistrate witness I said the bov was only once beaten at j home. She saw the beating, which was i not severe. He did not receive the | bruises through any thrashing lie got ] at home. Comment by Magistrate The Magistrate: Why did 1 lie father I take off the boy's trousers if the punishment, was not to bo severe? Witness: 1 suppose lie would not j feel it through his trousers. I The Magistrate: 1 thought a mother ! would have stepped in and stopped | that. It seems strange that a mother I would allow her child to lie struck on I the bare skin by any kind of a cane. 1 John William M'cGecliic, headmaster ; of the J'nrnell School, said the boy . was a peculiar problem. He could not i be trusted, and would not respond to I any kind of treatment. He required j constant attention, and for that reason j witness recommended that he be placed in the care of the State. Cross-examined, witness said lie received requests from the boy's mother that he be punished, but he only punj islied the boy once, when he lost, patii ence with him. He struck the boy 1 six times on the hands with a strap. I "L propose to reserve my decision," i sa id the magistrate. "Accused may re- ! main at liberty in the meantime, but I I shall want him to be present when I deliver my judgment."