AMAZING CRUELTY
THREE YEARS OF BRUTALITY. FEEBLE MINDED SERVANTS SUFFERINGS. London, May 5. An extraordinary story of cruelty to a feeble-minded girl extending over three years, was revealed when Alfred Beecroft and his wife were charged with inflicting bodily harm. It was alleged that the girl went into service at Beecroft's in 1923 and since then was starved and given no wages. She was hit on the head and body with a poker, thrown on the ground and held by Beecroft while his wife stamped on her. She was terrified of everybody. Neighbours in evidence said they frequently heard terrified screams and shouts of "Murder! Don’t! Don’t!” A doctor said that when admitted to the hospital the girl's body was a mass of contusions and bruises. The Court was invaded by crowds of women who hissed defendants. When the Magistrate committed them for trial there was loud clapping in Court, whereupon the Magistrate appealed: "Be British. Wait till you hear the other side before demonstrating.”—A. and N.Z.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19270507.2.32
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 7
Word Count
167AMAZING CRUELTY Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 7
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