Miner’s Callous Neglect

September 1917

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 19 September 1917

Miner’s Callous Neglect

A revolting story of child neglect was told at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court yesterday when Harold Barrow’, miner, Micklebring, and his wife, Nellie C. Barrow, were summoned for neglecting their child Harold.

Superintendent Minty said the child was born on 14th June. He was a fine healthy infant and weighed 91bs., which was 2 lbs above the normal.

He died on August 13, when he weighed only 5lbs 14 ozs. The normal increase in weight was about seven or eight ounces a week. The prosecution alleged that the husband had not provided sufficient nourishment.

At the adjourned inquest a verdict that the child died from starvation, caused by the lack of proper nourishment, was returned, and the parents were severely censured.

Evidence was given by Dr. J Forster, Conisborough, who said the child should have weighed at least 11 or 121bs.

The Bench dismissed the case against the woman, who they considered had been under the influence of her husband. The neglect on the part of Barrow had amounted to cruelty of a very distressing character. He had displayed a callousness almost heartless and would have to  go to  prison for three months with hard labour.