MOST SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST SCHOOL HEAD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19118, 10 July 1930, Page 1

MOST SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST SCHOOL HEAD.

Sick Children Were Neglected And Starved, And One Died. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.) (Received July 10, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. That one child died from pneumonia, following measles, and nine others suffered ringworm and eczema owing to neglect, is an allegation against Mrs Hilda Fearn, principal of the Merevale High School, Bickley. This charge is made hy the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Nine children, aged from five to nine, with bandaged heads, appeared in Court. When the case began the Crown Prosecutor said that Mrs Fearn did not call a doctor to the measles cases because, on her own statement, she owed him money and her cheque had been dishonoured. When the doctor ultimately did call he did not see Veronica Budd. who eventually died, until it was too late. He then found three more cases of measles and suggested that a nurse would be Accessary, but nonevwas employed. Veronica Budd’s parents had

.previously been told that she was c[uite well, although she was suffering from measles. The society’s officials found that the child was suffering from measles and was practically starving. Eight others were afflicted with ringworm and one girl of five was bald. Nurses, who were called in later, gave evidence that Veronica Budd’s b,ed was too short and that her room was disgustingly dirty. The case was adjourned.