Mexborough and Swinton Times May 14, 1910
” Born Idle.”
Denaby Father’s Heartless Conduct.
Story Of A Baby’s Death.
2/9 Per Week for a Family of Four.
Shocking Revelations
It is doubtful if the Doncaster West Riding Bench have ever had to deal with a more heartless case of child neglect than the one on Saturday last, when George Hinchcliffe, filler of Barnburgh street. Denaby, was the defendant. The revelations made in the case were of the most disgusting character.
Hinchcliffe told the Bench that he wanted the case dealt with that day. “I want to get it over” were the only words he spoke during the half-hour occupied by the prosecution in stating the case against him. Defendant would be under 30, but it was really impossible to judge his age correctly owing to his slovenly appearance. He seemed quite unconcerned as the case proceeded.
Mr. W A. Baddiley, prosecuting on behalf of the N.S.P.C.C. said in this case there were two children, aged respectively four years and nine months and two years. The defendant was one of those men, often before the Bench who were born idle, and that was what he suffered from. He had plenty of work if he liked to do it. As a filler at Cadeby Main he could put in five and six shifts weekly but for the past three months he had averaged three shifts only.
In the circumstances one could scarcely credit how defendant, with his wife and children, could exist.
Only One Room.
They lived in a five roomed house, but everything was done in a back room, termed the living room; the others were unused. The only furniture in the house consisted of a table, two chairs, and a flock bed. Defendant was so idle that he rarely washed himself when he came from the pit, and it was no rare occurrence for him to go to bed in his black.
When an officer called one morning at 11 o’clock, defendant was still in his pit dirt of the night before. The case, proceeded Mr Baddeley, had been under observation for four months. All the clothes the children had was a little slip pinafore and a pair of stockings. While they were in this condition defendant’s wife was confined. There was then no coal in the house, no food nor bed clothes nor any preparation for the event, and a neighbour who was called in at 2:30 in the morning had to bring in coal and food so that unfortunate household.
As they might expect
The Child did not Live
long under these conditions. The man had been repeatedly warned, but he made no effort to better things. The wife was penniless and she could do nothing. Like a good many other women, she had done everything she could to screen a guilty husband.
Inspector M Dolan, of the N.S.P.C.C., spoke to having the case under observation since February 7, when he first warned Hinchcliffe .
Mr. Baddiley: What did you see in their house that day? I found the mother in a delicate state of health, and the two children were naked, with the exception of a little black slip pinafore, which was so black that it could stand up by itself for dirt. The one room they occupied was filthy. The other four rooms were empty.
What is in the room that they use?— In the kitchen there is a table, two chairs, a filthy flatbed, perfectly black. There were no bedclothes of any kind. Later a thin bed covering was given by a neighbour.
Yon warned him then ?–Yes, and on five occasions since.
When you went there on the 4th March, with P.c. Glithro, was there any improvement?—No, things were worse. There was a pitcher in the room, and the stench from it was unbearable.
Inspectors Visits.
Did you again visit the place on April 7th? —I did. I found the wife on the filthy bed in the kitchen; she was crying. Defendant was sitting there a. well, he said he had been to work the previous day, but him face was then black. There was no food of any sort in the house. At a quarter to twelve I again visited the house with Dr. McArthur, and found the mother lying on the bed apparently ill. There was still no food. I purchase some. The woman was confined.
Has Heathcliff made the slightest effort to better the condition of his family? – None whatsoever
Have you inquired about his wages? – Yes, and for the past three months I find he has averaged 16 shillings weekly at Cadeby Colliery. He gets three days in.
The Chairman: Can he work more? – The company informs me that he can earn at least 30 shillings working five shifts one week and six the other. But he will not work.
What becomes of his earnings? – Sometimes he brings a little home. There is 4/6 stopped for rent, and other stoppages as well.
Is that by the colliery company? – Yes, they stop the 4/6. I don’t know what he does with his money beyond that.
Eliza Hilton, 60 Barbara St, Denaby said she had known defendant about five months .
She said the children were grossly neglected. They have no food, no clothes, and no shoes or stockings, and they are never washed.
The Chairman: of course it is a mother’s duty to wash them? – Yes, but she is in very delicate health. Witness had given the children food more than once.
An Early Morning Scene.
Mr Baddiley: Do you remember the morning of the 4th April?- I do. Defendant called me at 2-30.I went across to the hones. There was no food there, no coal. no light and no clothes. The woman was about to be cofined.
Was there the slightest preparation that is usually made for such an event?—Absolutely none.
Did you bring coal from your house, and make a fire for them?—Yes, and I put the children to bed in my own house.
Where were the children when you went in? —In bed with the mother. There were no clothes of any sort on the bed. The child was born alive, but it died a fortnight later.
Was it apparently a fine healthy child?—Yes. You have your own opinion as to the cause of death ?—Yes.
What is it?—I believe if the child had been rightly looked after and properly nourished it might have lived.
Did you provide food for them?—Yes.
What kind of man is Hinchcliffe?—I think he is right lazy and idle.
You and other wornen have had to keep the children this week?—That is so.
Kate Reed , of 119, Doncaster Road, Denaby, knew defendant and his wife since April 4, when he came to her house and asked if she would sell him some coal. He said his wife had been confined, and that they had no coal. This witness said she would not sell him any coal, but would give it to him free. Later she was asked to go to the house. There was no clothing for the baby, and none for the bed, but I procured some.
So that at 2 o’clock on the day she was confined there was no bed clothes of any kind? – No.
Not “Home, Sweet, Home.”
What was the home like? – Very dirty.
Not very sweet? – Oh no.
What about the two children? – They wanted washing badly. There’s only an old pinafore on – no boots or stocking.
The neighbours had had to give them food? – Yes
What about the defendant? – They say he won’t work. His own wife’s says so.
You gave him money to help over that event? – Yes.
Eliza Ann Hatton, who lives at 54, Barnburgh Street, opposite defendant, had known him about four months. The children during that time have been very neglected and dirty. They were hungry and naked.
You remember the baby? – Yes, it was very dirty, and I was quite ashamed of it. I bathe it. Witness and other people had supplied the home with food.
What is the matter with the husband? – The wife says he is too idle to work.
PC Clitheroe and often had complaints about defendant from the neighbours during the four months of their acquaintance. He had thought it necessary to cause him several times in respect of these complaints, but defendant never bothered.
Did he ever take notice? – Not a bit. Witness described the condition of the house on his visit with Inspector Dolan.
Filth!
What state was the house in? The living room was filthy. There was a lot of filth in the back rooms. The mother was sitting on the bed. She seemed very delicate.
Doctor McCarthy’s description of the house of the founders of April 7 was much the same as that of the previous witnesses. He saw absolutely no food there, and was only a thin covering on the bed.
That had to save the mother and father and two children? – Yes.
When witness saw the wife she was trying to do a little work, but she had overreached herself. She was suffering from general debility, brought on by neglect and want of food.
Is a condition of the house and all about it such as to cause the children unnecessary trouble? – Yes.
Do you know anything about the baby’s death? – I was called in to see when it was about 10 days old. Although born prematurely, the child, under ordinary conditions, could have lived.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Defendant was asked if he wished to give evidence. “There is my wife and children,” he replied, “If you want to see them. I want to call my wife.”
“Give him another Chance.”
Defendant’s wife, a delicate, respectable -looking young woman, was called, and asked what she had to say. She replied: “I should like you to give him another chance. He has been better this last fortnight.”
Mr Baddeley: you know that Inspector Dolan has been and warned him several times? – Yes.
Now as your husband on a single occasion attempt to do better since then? – Yes, this last fortnight.
What has he done this last fortnight? – He has earned more money.
Where has he earned it? – No reply.
How much did you get from last week? – Two and ninepence.
There is not much improvement there. How much is learned this week? – 27 and sixpence.
That shows he can work if he liked. Why has he been idle? He has sometimes come back because the dirt was down.
The chairman (Mr Yarborough) said the children were persistently neglected, and the defendant was committed to prison for six months with hard labour.