AN INHUMAN PARENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 19 June 1911, Page 5

AN INHUMAN PARENT.

“A VERY HARD HEART.” For revolting cruelty to his threo-year-old child, a boy, John Elliott Murray, described as a stone-blower, of Belmont Terrace, Harvey Street, Barnsley, was sent to prison for two months by the borough Magistrates. Mr Rideal, who prosecuted, said the circumstances in this case were such as were not often found, lie was glad to say, in that Court. It. appealed that the child had been playing with fire, and for the purpose of punishing him and to i prevent him playing with lire again, the defendant took hold of the child’s hands and held them right close to tiie lire, until each finger "was scotched and burned in the most dreadful manner, •'•o bad were- tlie burns that the man himself took the child to Br Potter’s, who treated the wounds for a week. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children then got to know of the case, and Br Wallis was called in. Inspector Chappel deposed to visiting the defendant’s house on April 13th in company with Sergeant Barrington. Asked to explain his conduct, defendant said he did it to teach the child not to go near the fire again. He did not intend to hurt him. Br Wallis said the burns were in a very bad state when ho examined them, although the child had been under careful treatment for a week. The wounds on three fingers of the right hand varied from half an inch to an inch and a half in length; and they were discharging matter freely. On the left hand all four lingers were burned. Defendant told the Bench that lie committed this barbarous act “more with the intention of breaking the child off playing with fire than of cruelty.” The chairman (Alderman Chappel) said this was a most cruel way ot correcting a child. If he wanted to prevent him playing with fire he should have go,t a fire-guard. The child must certainly have screamed when its hands were held to the fire, and the defendant must have a very hard heart. In going to prison for two months he ought to consider himself very lucky to get off so lightly.

CABLE NEWS By Electric Telegraph—Copyright United Press Association.