ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4572, 17 February 1893, Page 3

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

The Heathcote Valley Case. The hearing of the charge against Eliza Savage, licensee of the Heath{cote Valley Hotel, of cruelly illtreating her step-son, Boland Savage, was resumed at the Christchurch Resident Magistrate's Court, this afternoon, before Messrs H. S. Wardell, 8.M., and J. Connal.J.P. ■ Mr Martin conducted the prosecution, and Mr Kippenberger appeared for accused. The boy, Roland Savage, in cross-exami-nation by Mr Kippenberger, said his stepmother would not allow him or the other boys to go to the front of the house when she was living at the White Horse Hotel. When he was living at the Heathcote Valley Hotel he had the Bamo food as the other two boys. Sometimes he did not get three meals a day. Once or twice he had bread-and-milk for his tea, but he generally had bread-and-butter or bread-and-dripping. Was always up first in the morning. Had his photograph taken with his step-mother, while he was living at the Heathcote Valley, and also when he waa at the White Howe Hotel. The boy here began to cry, and Mr Kippenberger had great difficulty in getting him to answer questions. After a few minutes, the boy, though sobbing bitterly, said his hands pained him when he was carrying the buckets. He did not complain to his step-mother, who showed his hands to several people to see what was the matter with them. At this stage Mr Kippenberger said it was no use to further cross-examine the boy, who began to cry worse than ever. Mr Martin said this was the case for the prosecution. Mr Kippenberger addressed the Benoh at length, and called the defendant, Eliza Savage, who said her hußbanddied seven years ago last October. She had three children, and shortly after her husband's death her step-son was kinked on the Bide of the head by a bull on the Peninsula. After leaving the Peninsula defendant went to live at Addington. The boy was attended by Dr Mickle for about eight weeks. Before the boy recovered Dr Mickle recommended defendant to give him a certain kind of food, as he was in the habit of over-eating himself. When defendant removed to the White Horse Hotel the boy was ill once, and was never as strong as the other two boys. The children always had their meals in the kitchen, and the servant was instructed by defendant to give all the children plenty of food. On one occasion the servant did not give enough food to the children. After the boy found out that defendant was his stepmother he became unmanageable. This was after he had spent five weeks at Kaiapoi. Before defendant went to the White Horse Hotel the whole family had their meals together. It was only when defendant was in the hotel that the children had their meals in the kitchen. When defendant went to the Heathpote Valley the boy's. cold did not trouble him so much as it did when she was living at the White Horse Hotel. The boy always wanted to take off his stockings and boots at the Heathcote Valley. The hotel was much better than the White Horse, and the climate seemed to suit the boy. Never compelled the boy to get up at six o'clock in the morning. He would very often get np before daylight. The boy had to chop the wood and fill the kettle and boiler before going to bed. Sometimes defendant asked him to fetch the coal. The bar was only cleaned five times since defendant had been in the hotel. The boy cleaned it out three times, and defendant and her daughter cleaned it out twice. The cardroom- waß very small, and the boy was never asked to scrub it out. He was Bet to clean the kitchen' out once a week. Defendant had been using a quarter of a ton of coal in the summer and half a ton in the winter. Never punished the boy for not doing his work. Gave him a severe beating in November lost for doing a dirty act. After this the boy was never beaten as far as defendant was aware. Would not say that she had beaten the boy with a poker. She might have given him a stroke with it one day when she waa cooking. The Doker was, very small,and was made of wire. Beat the boy only when she thought he deserved it. The boy waa very untruthful, and defendant often offered him a penny to tell the truth. Showed the boy's hands to several persons who came into the bar. The reason defendant did this was because she wanted to find out what was the matter with them. No one seemed to know what was the matter, and defendant was told to take him to Dr Meares to be examined. The boy never complained that his hands pained him. He was never aeked to chop wood when hiß hands were bad. The boy had repeatedly thrown bis food away. He would not eat some kinds of vegetables or jam, and often suffered from diarrhoea. He was always well clothed. The defendant was then examined at length as to her financial position. Cross-examined : The declaration of trust produced was executed to protect her step children's estate when' she was in difficulties with Ward and Co. After living privately for two years Bhe put what money she had left into the business at the White Horse Hotel. All the clothes produced belonged to the boy. [Left sitting].