CRIES IN A BASEMENT.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4730, 15 June 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

CRIES IN A BASEMENT.

t Extraordinary allegations in regard to the treatment of a lunatic lady were made at a West London Police Court on April 21st Jane Mathiesun, of Penywern read, Kensington, appeared before Mr Fordham on two summonses, charging her with unlawfully for payment taking charge of a lunatic in an unlicensed house, and with unlawfully neglecting the said lunatic. Mr Travers Humphreys prosecuted on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecution, and stated that the lunatic in the case was an elderly lady, some 64 years of age, named Miss Eugenia Jesson Blackly, who had resided for some years in a boarding establishment carried on by the defendant. Last November a Miss Long went to the defendant’s establishment with a view l to taking charge of the place as manageress. She only remained there a week, and during that period she repeatedly heard cries proceeding from the basement of the house. She questioned the defendant about the sound, and the defendant told her that the basement was occupied by a Miss Blackloy, adding. “She is a rich old lady, who is worth more to mo than all the other boarders. ’’ Miss Long left, and returned on February 20th to take up the position of manageress, but she only stayed there two and a half days. During that time she saw Miss Blackley. who lived entirely in a front room in the basement, and she subsequently described Miss Blackley as an old lady who was constantly crying for food and firing, and was apparently very grossly neglected. As a result of her observations she went to Kensington Police Station on February 4th, and it seemed that the police had known Miss Blackley by sight for two years, as she was in the habit of going about th e streets somewhat grotesquely attired, and wearing a great deal of jewellery, inspector Davies communicated with Mr Campion, the relieving officer, and on February 25th he and Mr Campion called at the defendants’ house, and asked to see Miss Blackley. Whilst the officers were waiting in a room they heard sounds of moaning, and then of someone rushing about proceeding from the basement, so they went down to the basement. There, in a badly lighted, dirty room, they found Mias Blackley sitting on a bed clad in a dressing gown. On the bed was a suspiciously clean sheet, and the inspector, turning the sheet back, discovered that the other bed clothes were black witli dirt. Mr Campion offered to take Miss Blackley away, ana the defendant said, “Oh, no, you won't; she is not a pauper; she has money, and she owes me £IOO for board and lodging,” and added something to the effect that she could get the money from the insurance company. Two days after thu visit Miss Blackley was removed from the house by order of a justice of the peace, and on being certified by two doctors to be insane was taken to Bansted Asylum. Medical evidence would be called to show that the lady was undoubtedly a lunatic, and was in a neglected condition. Subsequent inquires, continued Mr Travers Humphreys, revealed the fact that in 1904 Miss Blackley bought two annuities, which brought her in £260 a year, and that in August. 1909, she assigned the whole of that yearly income to the defendant under an indenture, which provided that she (the defendant) should furnish her with board and residence. Under that deed regular quarterly payments had been made to the defendant. The case was adjourned after similar evidence had been given by Mr Campion, the relieving ollicer.