CRUELTY OR SEVERITY?

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9389, 16 March 1898, Page 3

CRUELTY OR SEVERITY?

(Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 15, In Healeys' case, charged with cruelty to the boy Albert Green, the jury found them not guilty on three counts, butguilty of undue severity in beating the boy. The judge released them in their 'own recognisances for the night, and said he would fine them in the morning. The 'evidence of the boy was to the effect < tho,t he was J4 years of age on the Ist January last.. ,He came out to the colony with' his two,' brothers about three years : before July, 1897, and went to live with Mr ' and Mrs Healey. In May, 1897, he showed Mr J, Hutchison the marks of a severe thrasbinggiverihhnbybisaunt. Shetook his clothing off, tied him to a bedpost, and thrashed him with an oxhide riding- whip. About a week .later" Mr Healey thrashed him one evening with the same whip, and the next morning- tied him up in the bedroom, where he-remained from the time Mr Healey went to work in the morning until dinner-time. Sometime in June he ■ was again tied up, and left from before lunch until Mr Healey came home from' ■rtork, and given only bread to eat. In July" Mr and Mrs Healey went into town leaving witness and his brother shut up in the* bedroom. They sot alight to some bits of paper, and were accused of trying to burn the place down, and instead of getting any tea got a thrashing with & teatree switch and a leather strap, afterwards being sent to bed. On another occasion, in July',' he was sent away before breakfast to fetch 6d worth of tar. Instead of buying the full amount of tar he spent Id on bread and Id on something else. On his return his aunt made him undress, tied him up by his wrists to a bedpost, and hit him with the whip. Next morning he was again tied up by his uncle, but he got away, and a boy cut off the webbing with which his hands were tied. "Very seldom a week passed without his being' thrashed. One n-eek he was thrashed every night except Sunday. He had to drag up' gravel from the beach in a handcart, cut firewood, attend to the garden, and housework, including washing the clothes. He and his brother were not allowed Xo wear boots and stockings, and he watf dressed " anyhow " in wet weather. He did not get enough to eat at Healey's, especially when his work was not properly done. Once he was put on bread and water for six or seven days, he thought, and was "kept in the bedroom air day, only being allowed out when Mr Healy came home. When he was first locked up Mr Healey gave him a small cottage loaf of bread, and told him it would have to last three days. In the morning he was given porridge and sometimes in the evenings he had a few potatoes with his bread, which was occasionally spread with dripping. > -Mr, John Hutcheson, M.H.8., said he ha^knowntheboy Albert Green almost ever since hs had been with the Healeys. One cold night he found the boy and one of his brothers sleeping under some teatree'in the.Kilbirnie Gully. They were unable to w^lk at first owing to the cold, bat' when they had restored circulation somewhat hb took them to his own house, where they: stayed for the night. '■ Next ',"'■ morning- he examined the boy Albert, and ,~, ~ found marks -upon hinras if he had been , r -severely beaten. 'There were bruises on His back and forearms as if he had been beaten with' a whip or stick., He took both boys b'aok to 'their guardians'! house, ' and*remon,strated with both Mr and Mrs Healoy. the apparently exeesr/ slve ill-treatment < of the boy Albert, ' threatening if it was" repeated to take .- fctept.'in'tbe.'waßtter. 'They disavdwdd « having inflicted anything more than light punishment. , (Per United Press Association). ' Wellington, March 16. ' - The Healeys were fined £25 each, with . three months to pay in.

" Mr T." Ferry! secretary of the local • Be^atta 1 •Aisoeiation; waited' 'on a large -•' jftunber of traajnp?s people to-day, and - they consented to close their premises to- ' - mmw <*& P° on < & pkw©"Q* i o'Qiopk, to cnaWa th«it' employe? to see the first race - which starts at 1,90 o'olook.