BRUTAL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 140, 14 May 1881, Page 3

BRUTAL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN.

r AUCKLAND, Wednesday. f The "Waikato police laid three informations against Mr Shepherd, a Waikato- settler, for ill-using John Muirand Elizabeth Hill, children from Home for Neglected Children. 1 One. information charges him with 'tying Muir to a dray, and flogging him with »upplejacks, another with knocking down and cruelly beating the girl, and the third with, neglecting to provide them with proper food and clothing. A constable went to the farm to investigate the matter. It is: said that the boy was lodged ! in a place little better than a pigsty c and his food thrown to him as if he were a dog, and that he had even got nothing better at times to eat than raw potatoes. He had tried on more than one occasion to escape but was retaken. Another boy had bolted and succeeded m escaping. The constable saw quite sufficient on his arrival at the place, and heard enough from his lips to warrant him m removing him at once to Hamilton and return for the girl. ; .. Later. The charges against Mr. Shepherd for ill-treating the boy Muir were dismissed, the evidence being contradictory. The boy was confused m dates. For the assault on the girl Hill, was fined £5 or three months' imprisonment. The magistrate directed the police to find the boy ;Sain who stated to have witnessed the assault on Muir, but who had absconded from Shepherd's service, i and if his evidence corroborated the children's, to indiot the defendant for perjury.