A Mistress Sent to Prison.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2817, 20 June 1900, Page 3

A Mistress Sent to Prison.

FOUR MONTHS FOR ILL-TREATING A SERVANT.

On April 13 Florence Lockwood, a widow lody, residing at Westbourne Park Villas.Bayswater,pleaded “ Guilty ” to having assaulted Emily Gibb, aged 20, a domestic in her service. Mr Arthur Hutton, who prosecuted on behalf of (he Society for the Protection of Women and Children, said the complainant, who was not of very robust intellect, had been some two years in Mrs Lockwood’s service. She was a strong, healthy girl when she first went there; but last February her altered physical condition attracted attention. She alleged that on several occasions her mistress had beaten her about the body with a cricket stump,and caused bruises, and it was alleged further that she had been insufficiently fed, but this was denied. Screams were heard c-oming from Mrs Lockwood’s house on different dates, as if the girl was shouting in pain, and the prisoner was seen to stiike the complainant by a servant next door. In consequence of what transpired subsequently the girl was taken to an inspector of the society, and eventually legal proceedings were instituted against the prisoner. The doctor's certificate, which was in court, disclosed the condition of the girl’s body. Mr Hutton thought it right to inform the Court that in 1890 the prisoner was convicted at Brentford of a similar offence and fined £25, with ten guineas costs.—Mr Avory.in extenuation while admitting that the girl was struck by her mistress, pointed out that if her situation had been such a bad one she might have left it any time, but did not do so. So far /rom her mistress having been unkind, tfcere were letters from the girl to her mistress which clearly disproved the suggestion of persistent cruelty. The I prisoner was in delicate health, and there ! were indications that at times she was 'not responsible for her actions.—The Recorder said that this was more a question ftir a jury than for him to consider. As to the health of the prisoner, that might be the subject of an application to the Home Secretary.—Mr Avory said he was afrai d he had not sufficient evidence to support a plea of legal insanity. He entirely repudiated the suggestion of persistent cruelty.—The Recorder said he could not overlook the fact that the prisoner had been been convicted previously of a similar offence. He sentenced her to four months’ imprisonment as an offender in the second division.