Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22544, 11 April 1935, Page 14

A woman who was stated to have held a child’s hand over a lire to teach him not to play with it was acquitted at Plymouth Police Court on a summons for ill-treating the child. It was said that lire had a fascination for the child. She had slapped him without effect, and had then tried to cure it by frightening it. Mrs Ella Morris, of Devonport, was caring for the child, aged 18 months, with the object of legal adoption. Mr Stony Deans, prosecuting, said that there was no neglect. t The child was well nourished and clean. “It is a case, however,” he continued, “of a woman following the old saying that ‘A burned child dreads the lire.’ ” Dr G. A. Pratt said that thdre were three burns on the child’s hand. Mrs Morris told him: “I would not harm the child for worlds, I love him so.” Mrs Dunn, who lives in the same house, said that she smelt burning. It was found that a doll’s hat was smouldering, in the grate. Sirs Dunn added; “ All at once she picked up littl# Keith, and, holding him underneath her left arm, gripped his wrist and held the back of his hand over the lire for about a minute, repeating, ‘Do you feel that?*The child screamed.” Sirs Slorris, wlit broke down while giving evidence, sale that she had no intention of burning thf child. She only wanted to frighten hiis a little.