AMAZING SUPERSTITION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 15

AMAZING SUPERSTITION

SUFFERINGS OP A VAITH-HIiAL-LR’S CHILD. What is known as the “fniiii-hoaling case'’ came rcconuy (says au lingb-u paper.) before the Maiichcrtcr -■h'gi.s----l sat os. ’the defendant. v.us Frank Knowles Battei worth, master printer, Cotleiiham-rtreot, (J.-on-M., ami he was charged at the iiutanco of the K.S.P.C’.C. will having neglected Ins child Elixabeih, aged urn years, in a manner ,likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury to her health. Mr Hcokin. in opening the case, said tho prisoner carried on business in Bull’s Head Yard. Ho had five children, tho youngest of whom was tho one in question, who was tho only one who did not work. On the 3rd mst. the child was at school, and on leaving she fell down some stone steps. When she returned homo at :;0 minutes to -■ she made a complaint to her mother. The ohi,ld was then suffering acutely and nearly fainted. 'The pain was so great tint Mrs Butterwarth was compelled to cut the straps of the child’s clothing in order to get tho clothes off her shoulder to sea what was the matter. She found that tho arm was discoloured, and it wc.s obvious that something was wrong. Tho ;jri.scner returned homo at 4.30. aud his wife at cnee drew hLs attention to tho condition of the child. PRAYER AND BROKEN BONES. She asked hjs permission to take the child to a doctor, aud he replied, ‘•Never mind, it will como all right; God will put it right.” (Matters went worse, and on tho Oth, which was Sunday, the mother noticed a lump on the anil, oho again drew her husband's attention to it, aud again asked his permission for her to rake tho child to a surgeon. The prisoner, however, again refused, saying, “I will not allow you to take her to a doctor. Wo will pray for her.” On tho Sth Mrs Butterworth saw what seemed to be a bane protruding from the shoulder, and she pointed, it out to her husband, and again asked permission to take the girl fo a, doctor. Permission was oneo more refused, but the prisoner said she could take tho girl to Mr Harding, chemist, as she had suggested. This Airs Butterjvorth did, and Mr Harding at once saw it was not a case for him. Ho said the collarbone was fractured, and that Die child ought to bo taken to tho Royal Infirmary. Tho mother told tho prisoner what the chemist hud said, and the accused told the child to go unstairs and say her prayers, and keep raising her arm up. In that way, ho said, the injury would become cured. On tho Oth the girl was no bettor, and the father took her to the Zion Chapel at Chorlton-oum-Hardy, this being a chapel connected with the particular sect with which Batter worth was associated. His instructions were that tho ciders at the chapel prayed over the cliild. CABLING TO DR DOWIE. On tho lObh tho gril was no better, and tho prisoner cabled to Dr Dowie, Zion City, America, asking him to pray for the recovery of the child. On the 11th tho N.S.P.O.C, got to know of the caso throgh tho police, and Inspector Goff visited tho house. Ho noticed that the cliild required surgical treatment; and ho- wont to the prisoner’s place of business. but Butterworth _dcclinod to allow a doctor to see the child, and expressed tho opinion that doctors were maimers and ’thieves. Shortly afterwards tho prisoner returned homo, and took tho child, ho believed, to the Zion Ohapel. The elders again prayed for the girl. On the morning of Saturday, the 12th. he again took tho child to the chapel, and did not return home with her until 5 o’clock in tho afternoon. Whore the child'was during the whole of tho day he (Mr Hockin) did not know. Ho did not suppose she was in the chapel all tho day, and thought that probably she was taken care of by some kind friend who was a member of the same persuasion. On the following Tuesday tho prisoner stated his intention of removing the child from Manchester so that no doctor could get to her. Ho said, “The Lord has begun His work and He wi'l finish it.” He 'took-Dio child away, but before doing so he cabled again to Dr Dowie. The Prisoner —That is wrong. I did not cabie twice. Mr Hockin went on to say that before going away the prisoner said ho would cable to Dr Dowio. The mother did not know where tho child was taxon to, but it transpired that Butterworth took tho child to Southport, and he returned frith her last Saturday. He was apprehended on Monday, raid on ins own application was remanded. The Magistrates made am order directing that the child should be taken to Clifford Street Hospital, and under surgical treatment she was. progressing favourably. If. the Ivlagismt't- committed the prisoner for trial ho would ask them to make am order giying the Rev B. Waugh, of the N.5.P.0.0., tho custody of the child until such time as she had completely recovered, probably two months. Mrs Butterworth, wife of the prisoner, bore out in the main Mr Hockin’s statement. She said the cliild suffered pain for six days, and cried for three days. Mr Butterworth was committed for trial, and allowed bail. He was subsequently sent to goal for a month.