ILL-TREATING A CHILD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7562, 5 May 1919, Page 6

ILL-TREATING A CHILD.

THRASHED AND TICKLED

WOMAN CONVICTED

A Avidow- named Violet M'Caughern appeared before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court .it Wellington on Friday to answer a charge •of having ill-treated John Thomas M'Caughern, her son, aged 1-hree years. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr H. F. O?Leary. Acting Sub-Inspec-tor Emerson conducted the prosecu-

tion. , . , Gertrude Oockerill, churcih social worker, paid that she occupied a room in the People's Palace Hotel, almost opposite to that occupied by the defendant. The child was left alone 11 the room, and she considered that most cruel. T;he child was severely beaten r.nd often his cries were stopped by his being tickled until he became hysterical, and would then cry and laugh for :i long time. At times witness and others wondered if the thrashings were fever going to stop. The beatings occurred almost daily and took place generally every morning. Usually the child was quieted by threats of another beating. The child wa s left alone n the room each evening when the defendant went out between V and ; o clock. Witness had heard the child appeal to its mother to stop beating it. saying: "Don't beat me, mummy." To Mr O'Leary: Witness had seen defendant hustle* the child along the passage and into the room and heard •t plead by saying: ''Don't beat me, mummy." She knew that when the child was crying it was beaten as she could hear the blows being struck. Did you tee defendant tickle the child?—" No." Who told you that the child was being tickled P—" The housemaid, who nat-hed it from a window opposite." To the Magistrate . The child was left in the house only at night by itself. Did the child get sufficient fresh air during the day?—"l could not tell you that as I did not watch its movements sufficiently." Fanny Raynor, church social worker, said that she had been living at the People's Palace Hotel for 14 months. Witness occupied the room next door t:. that of the defendant. She used 10 hear the child screaming and heard considerable knocking, and then heard the mother say: "Is that enough?" The defendant would continue beating, aud the child would continue to say, "Don't beat me, mummy," and "Don t mummy!". The tickling used to continue for periods of about five or seven minutes. The beating varied m length, and took place sometimes several times a day. In reply to Mr O'Leary witness stated that she had only seen defendant smack the child on two occasions, and that all the rest of the evidence was gamed through listening. -Witness had seen defendant with the child on two or three occasions.

Mary Lindsay Redpath said that on tne occasion, as she was coming up the stairs, she heard the child crying out "Don't mummy 1 Don't mummy!" and heard him being whipped. Witness went to the door and stopped the beating. The child was in a erumpied heap on the bed, and there was a strap lying on the bed. To Mr O'Leary : Witness toid dwfendant* that she would call the .police, but did not do so.

i Elizabeth Helen Goodhue, housekeeper at the People's Palace Hotel, said she had witnessed a:ts of cruelty towards the child. She had heard the beatings several times —tney lasted an unusually long time. Sergeant M'Lean said that he had known the defendant since January last, and as far as he knew she had no occupation. She was regarded as a woman of questionable character. He had seen i.er about the city at night time.

For the defence Mr O'Leary said he appreciated the attitude and motives of the ladies who gave evidence for the prosecution, but he would point out that they were not in a position ';o judge of the treatment the child received. The child was strong willed £.nd high spirited, and the defendant considered it necessary to correct .t and. gave it the punishment regulated according to her judgment. In her evidence the defendant stated that she had chastised the child when necessary. The child had been spoilt by some of the men at the hotel, ond would not always obey defendant. She had smacked the child when it refused to obey her, but harl never Used anything but her hands. She denied ever tickling the child. To Acting-Sub-lnspector Emerson: Defendant had been a widow for twelve months. She had another child, which was with het people, fcrhe had means.of support a pension of £2 10s a week — p.nd in addition she received a pension on behalf of the children. The child used to cry before being beaten. rihe denied having chastised the child for four or five minutes. The beating lasted no longer .than a mindte. 3<h« used to smack the child with her hand. A lot of what the witnesses had said v/as untrue. She did :.ot know of any reason for their attitude towards her.

What were you standing about m the doorways in Cuba Strtet for?—l haven't been there. 1 have spoken to one or two of the boarders outside the apor of the hotel.

Continuing, defendant denied that the child had had tits ot laughter.

Edward William Sm;-the, medical practitioner, said that he examined the ■child in the receiving home and found i K in perfect health. Jt was well cared for and there was no sign of in-treat-ment, and it was ertamly not ill-nour-ished. There were no external marks. In his opinion the child must have been well looked after for some considerable time prior to witness's examination. If the child had been strapped in January last there would not be any marks on it now. So long as the flesh was not cut, the marks from a strapping would soon disappear. To tickle the child persistently would cause nervous irritation. There were no signs of nervous instability. His Worship questioned the child h* some length, and it confessed that the defendant had used a strap on it. In summing up His Worship said that it was a matter for comment that rone of the witnesses for the prosecution were mothers. Still, they had heard what was going on, and they \iere of the opinion that the child was being beaten excessively. He did not think it was at all likely that all four witnesses would confuse an ordinary cpanking with a severe beating. On the point of the mother leaving the child by itself, His Worship held that <his was a matter for individual opinion. He did not favour the idea of leaving a child of three years in a hoardinghouse at night by itself. This action was perhaps more selfish than cruel. The nocturn.il wanderings of the defendant were a factor which weighed with His Worship in deciding the motives which actuated the mother in thrashing the child. He could not see why any woman should thrash a child as this child had i,_en thrashed. He could not find the mother had acted bona fide, even given every possible margin for individual discretion, and : had beaten the child through monetary annoyance. She looked upon the chilci r>o a nuisance. Defendant had acted wilfully so as to cause the child unnecessary su.Terinjj. She be con-

victed and ordered to come up for sentence wlien called upon witnin two years, on the understanding that she conducted herself properly and paid the costs of the prosecution. The child would not be permitted to go back to the defendant. The police would make the necesary arrangements for it to l>e committed to a receiving home.

Beautiful ans interesting as the whole river is the part from the Houseboat, down to Pipinki is the best of all. The great walls close in, rising sheer from the water's edge. Surmounting them ' are stately hills, whose treecrowned crests rise to kiss the heavens, and over all is spread a glorious mantle

r.f vegetation. Such wealth of foliage, such harmonious blending of colours much magnificence is displayed. The picture is perfect, a .scenic masterpiece.