MAGISTERIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2403, 19 January 1909, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18

(Before Air. AY. A. Barton. S.AL)

ILL-TREATING A CHILD

V middle-aged married woman named Ann Hire! pleaded guilty to a charoe of ill-treating her adopted child? Irene Clews, 81 years of age, on January 17th. Mr. J. Iv. Kirk appeared for tno defence. . The Magistrate said lie had examined the child in his room. Sergeant Hutton said that at- about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning the neighbors of the accused heard the. child screaming. They sent for the police and ho and constable Da lick went to the house and examined the child. They found a broken broomstick in the'house, and bruises on the child, and they took the child to Dr. Reeves for treatment. Mrs. Hiru admitted having beaten the child, who, she said, had been naughty. There were no old marks on the child. MV. Ivirk said that the child was an adopted on© 'and was not being paid for by anyone. Mrs. Hird was very fond of the child, who was usually very well-behaved. The child had acted disobediently, and Mrs. Ilircl lost her tom nor and had over-beaten the child. . , His Worship said he had no clouut the child had been severc.lv thrashed, and whatever the misconduct had been the beating had been unreasonable. The child, however, had said Mrs. Hird had been kind to her. He would not inflict any penalty but accused would be bound over in a security of £2O to come up for sentence when called upon. MAINTENANCE. The case of Anna Streater v. Frank Streater, a claim for maintenance that has been before the Court from time to time, was mailed. s Mr. T. Alston Coleman asked tor a further Adjournment -as the defendant was keeping up his payments at the rate of los per week. The defendant's wages would not allow, him to pay: more. The Magistrate said that if he sent the mail to prison the payments would cease altogether. The plaintiff consented to a further .adjournment of the cose and that course was adopted. the case being adjourned until April 19th.