CHILD WAS SOLD FOR £1.

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20635, 22 October 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

CHILD WAS SOLD FOR £l.

Couple Who Were " Short of Money” Bound Over for " Callous” Action

Sale of a boy of seven "as a marketable commodity” for £7 was described io Aberayron, Cardiganshire, magistrates. Before the court, were Benjamin and Hannah Thomas, of Cileennin, Cards., who were bound over for two, years for neglecting the child. Representing the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Mr .T. Reginald Edwards related that there had been differences between the husband and wife, chiefly because the woman had two illegitimate children, one being the boy in the case. On August 6 Mary Hobson, wife of a travelling hawker, called at their house and the boy was delivered to the Hobsons for £l, the money being

shared between the husband and wife. The Hobsons occupied a dwelling totally unfit, for human habitation. Condemned House The court was informed that the house, condemned 20 years ago, was dilapidated, dark and gloomy. The boy slept- for two nights with the liobsons before being returned home. Thomas declared he did not know' anything wrong was done. The £1 was used to get food, as they were short of money. Mrs Thomas, who admitted accepting the money, stated that she parted with the boy because she and her husband could not agree over her two children. The Bench described the Thomases' action as "callous.”