Horrible Cruelty to a Child

A Drunken Set

Mary Ellen Livesley Clark, married woman, Mexborough was brought up on a charge of having been drunk and disorderly at Mexborough on the 23^rdult.. There is also a further charge of cruelly ill-treating a child at Mexborough. The proceedings being instituted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

PC Hurst stated in regard to the first case he was on duty on the date named about 2:00 a.m. in Wilson Street. He there saw the defendant lying in the middle of the road apparently asleep. He aroused her and raised her up, when he found she was drunk. Her face was covered with blood. He assisted her into the house, where she was unable to stand. He put her on the chair, she was unable to sit there, so he put her on the floor. (Laughter).

The second charge was then proceeded with.

Mr Baddiley appeared to prosecute, and in his opening remarks said the woman was charged with neglecting her child, aged 10 years. Both father and mother were summoned for last Saturday, but neither of them saw fit to attend the summons. After hearing the evidence he thought they would agree with him that it was a very bad case. Husband and wife were one as much to blame as the other.

At 12:35 p.m. on the night of 23 January the child was found in the street, and was taken to the police station. The officer Hurst went with the little girl to the house, and he would tell them that he found the wife drunk, the husband drunk and a son named Peter aged 22, was also drunk. Both father and mother repeatedly turned the child out at nights, and on several occasions she had been taken care of by neighbours.

The parties had previously lived at Denaby, but had lately lived at Mexborough. He would call some witnesses from Denaby who would prove that on several occasions they found the child out in the streets on winter nights. The police office from Denaby would also be called and would tell them of the neglected state of the child. On 24 January the child was taken to Doctor Twigg who would tell them of the condition of the girl. She was covered all over with dirt, and had scarcely any clothing. The mother, father and son spent all the money in drink, and they all blamed each other for it. The father said he daren’t give the money to his wife, because she drank it, and the son Peter was just as bad.

Prisoner, in reply to the Chairman, as to whether she would be tried by jury or dealt with summarily said “I’m not pettikler.” (Laughter.)

Inspector Hunt of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, stated that she cautioned the defendants on many occasions. The girl had been poorly clad always, and suffered from an ulcerated heel, being scarcely able to walk. Witness visited the place on 20 January. Both the man and woman were drunk. The man said it was not his fault; his wife was always drunk. She was always out and his meals weren’t cooked when he went home. He had always found her lying on the floor drunk.

The woman said he was a “liar,” it was nothing of the kind. It was his fault; he was always drunk. He never gave her any money. The man said he could not trust her with the money. In reply to Mr Baddiley witness stated the girl had that morning come out of the workhouse, and there was a very great improvement.

The Chairman asked what they propose doing with the child, and the Inspector replied that he would have to communicate with the headquarters, meanwhile the child would stay at the workhouse. They would try to find a home for it.

The defendant said their “Mester” telled lies. (Laughter.)

Doctor Quinn stated that on 24 January he examined the child. The girl was in a shocking wretched condition. She was covered with dirt and filth. There were numerous evidences of lice bites all over. The girl was insufficiently clad, and was in a very emaciated condition, and was suffering from bronchitis. He ordered her removal to the workhouse. He then visited the house, which was covered with dirt and filth. The woman was laid in bed drunk. The bed was a filthy condition. The treatment the child received was likely to cause permanent injury to its health.

Defendant: He said I was drunk, and I wasn’t. (Laughter.) I had a bad head. Ahr mester messes th’ bed wi going to bed in his pit cloas. It’s not me as muckies bed. (Laughter.)

PC Hurst said that on the date named at 12.35, the little girl was brought to him. The child had no proper clothes and was also very dirty. Acting under Inspector Ambler’s orders he went to the house and found the woman lying in the street as previously stated by him. He went upstairs and found the man, was in bed with his trousers on, and in his dirt just as he had gone home from the pit.

Mr Baddiley: And where you find the other specimen, Peter ?

PC Hurst, continuing said he found Peter in the back kitchen on the floor drunk. He did not leave the little girl there, but asked the next door neighbour to take her in. He again visited the house at 9.30 the following night. The man was in the chair drunk. Peter was under the influence of drink, and he found the prisoner upstairs under the influence of drink. She was in bed with her clothes on; the ones she had laid in the street in the previous night. The little girl was in bed with her. There was only an old blanket and a bedcover. He again visited the house with Doctor Twigg, and then had to look for the child in the street. She had no jacket on, and on being taken to the house she ate ravenously.

The defendant: She got out herself; she’d not been sent out.

PC Jarvis said he was stationed at New Conisborough, where the defendant lived before she went to Mexborough. He had often seen the child out late at night, when it was dark and cold. One occasion he took her home at nearly 12. She was then very fully clothed, and had no hat on. She said she didn’t want to go home, because Peter had been hitting her. He visited the house last year with Inspector Ambler. The house was in a very dirty condition, the colliery company having given them notice to leave in consequence.

In answer to Mr Baddeley witness said the defendant worked at the pit, and he had heard that he could earn 30 shillings per week.

The defendant: I couldn’t get any drink; he never gave me any money. He won’t trust me, so I didn’t get any money to get drunk with.

Mrs Walters said she lived at New Conisborough, and on one occasion she had seen the little girl sat on the doorstep late at night. They had sent her out on several occasions. She saw her out one night at nearly midnight. It was a very cold night and was raining. She appeared to be starved. She nothing on except address and an old skirt. She was insufficiently clad.

The Chairman: Have you any question to ask that witness?

Prisoner: Her; I don’t know her. (Laughter)

Jane Holcroft spoke as to the treatment of the child. Witness took her in one night, and she ate ravenously. She was not sufficiently clad. She kept her all the next day then took her home to Mexborough. On 18 January she came back, and when witness wanted to take back she said she should not go home, but stop out all night.

Mrs Athron of Mexborough, also spoke as to the cruelty to the child. She remembered 26 January. She heard someone crying, and found the child outside. That was about 1 o’clock, but the child would not go home. She went to the prisoner’s door several times, but it was fastened, and the house was in darkness. She took her in. A fortnight ago she was again—-

Defendant: I was locked out myself that night.

The Chairman: Have you anything to say to the charge.

Defendant: No, I’ve nowt to say; it’s no good saying owt.

The Bench sentenced the prisoner to 2 months imprisonment for the cruelty and fined her five shillings and costs for the drunkenness.