PEPPERED WOUNDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3315, 6 September 1911, Page 7

PEPPERED WOUNDS.

A STEPMOTHER’S CRUELTY.

YEAR’S HARD LABOR

Another pitiful story of brutality to a child was unfolded at tilie London Sessions when a stepmother was sentenced bo 12 months' hard- labor, and her husband to three months’ imprisonment in . the second division for neglecting the man’s 11-year-old son. Mabel Harriett Thompson, aged 36. and- Wm. R. Thompson-, a plasterer, of Deptford, were the two prisoners, both indicted for neglect, and the woman in addition for cruelty. William Thompson, the ill-used boy, told his story in the witness-box. His father lie said, was sometimes kind to him; his stopmother never since she married his father six years ago. Describing her methods of ill-using him, the boy said that she had — Banged his head aginst the wall. Struck him across the arm with a poker. Bitten liim on the arm. Sworn at a neighbor who protested. Scratched his forehead. Hit him with a brass poker. Broken a brush by striking him across the arm with it. Knocked him down, trodden on_ him, and hit him on the head- with his father’s boot. Hit him with the handle of a broom and with a stick.

“When I was having dinner,” continued the boy, “she picked up a knife and cut my hand with it, because I did not hold my knife and fork properly, -and- then rubbed pepper in the wound. Then she washed it and put more pepper on and bandaged it up.” Sometimes lie was given breakfast and sometimes not, sometimes lie went without breakfast and dinner. In order to buy food he once stole Is from his stepmother and Is 6d from a neighbor. He had also taken food.

The female prisoner admitted that slio had hit the boy with a poker, but only under great provocation. She denied having rubbed pepper into the wound.

In passing sentence on the woman, Mr. Loveland- Dove land said: “It is to be hoped that your temper is' responsible for your presence here, because more inhuman treatment of a child I do not suppose has been known to this court. Y r ou have behaved in a most outrageous way towards the child.”