The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-12-18 00:00:00

BROOKING BRUTALITY TO A CHILD.

An elderly woman, named Sally Mono, was
charged at tin Borough Petty_liamions, on Monday
morniag (hams tin Mayor (EL Davin, Adls.
AidartnanGragory, J. Tador, F. Lan. Esq.,
sod hard Jillard, Elq.), with cruelty t an
illegitimata Mind, mind Sparks, and during the
leogthy hawing, lane of a most diegustlag
and brutal character wen revealed. The °barge
was ma follows—that the said Emily Shona on
August 23rd unlawfully nsaulted a Otriaill sash child
of tender years, mind Reginald Cimino William
_

Sparks.
M. 0. Weston, who appeared for the prosecu-
tion, having detailed the heart treatment which the
child had undergone, called the mother, • young girl
named
Alice Sparks, who said she wart • single woman
residing at Wimborne. In June 1881 she had • child,
and called it Reginald Charles William Sparks.
When the child was about a month old, she came to
Dorchester and lodged at a MM. Amor. During
that time she berme acquainted with Mrs. Sborto's
son, and kept company wilt) him. She remained here
about • vier, and upon her leaving for Wimborne she
left the child at Mrs. Shorn's. H. wee • healthy
chill, and had been dry nursed from the time he was
three months old. bibs was to pay Mrs. fib et°
65. a week and to find the clothes.
She occasionally came to see the child. At her first
visit there was not much the matter. The next time,
about three months after, be was not looking so
but Mrs. Short° said that was the twilit of his cu tine
his teeth. On her next visit the child was looking
worse, and defendant said he had the measles. A few
days after she went bank she received 111/2q111023111
letters. She also received a letter from Supt. 0 'ward,
which induced her to come to Dorohe.ter. She fount
the chill at the Onion. She to dr him away, and
brought him to a Mrs. Payne's. On Gemination she
found the child's head was covered with sores, and
wounds and bruises about the legs. She met defer,.
dant am she was coming out of the Union, and spoke
to her about the child. Defendant said the child had
no business in the Union, for sue had
not hurt it or starred It. The same morn-
ing she showed her the child's head an I legs. At Mrs.
Nlansel's suggesCon she t dr the chit It, Dr. George,
who examined him, Witness then went to the ti itine-
✓ation, and saw Mr. Onward. Afterwards she went
to Mrs. Amor's. Witness did not see the defendant
again until ten in the evening, when she went to the
'trine to take the mail train to Wimborne. Defend-
ant followed her, and on the way to the station she
said she bad not hurt the child or starved it, and that
the wounds on the hea I and legs were the result of the
merles. Witness, knew • Mrs. Dunsbury, who lived
opposite to the defendant. On one occasion, whir
witness was paying • visit to Mrs. Shorto's, she
expressed a wish tors Mrs, Dunsbury, but defendant
said "Don't go there, she will be Wang you • lot of
lies." During the time she was bringing the child from
the Union witness called defendant's attention to the
bridge of the nose, and also to one of the hands,
the latter, the defendant saying, being caused by the
child burning It. The burn wise in the palm of the
hand. Other visit in Oct doer there was nothing the
matter with the child's uoe• or hani.
Defendant: When I met you at the Union didn't I
Wee you tc mother's house, and not Mrs. Payne's !
Yes, but they both live in the same hour.
And didn't you go straight to Mrs. Mansel's and
from there to the pollosetation, and stay oil till you
went away—stand there telling such lies?
Witness, in answer t 3 the defendant, said she had
!salved • letter sine* the child was out of the Union,
as foUows

" Grove•bttildingn
"Deer Alico,—l ha,* been expecting you day after day.
I sea very uneasy because you do not come or mad. If
you knew the trouble I am in you would come. They
bare published in t`A papa that I have burned his
head with a red hot iron, and that I wee slow-starving
• You can answer I never stared It, as it is
only • month ego you saw biro, &al he is • rreat deal
better now than he was then, only he burnt hie hand.
I could not help that. The bat thing I advise you to
do la to come at once. or else Too will be in
EtTolerates, Gv.l ma well as we, as I guppies
that'll where I shall have to go. I suppose you
understood that ha was in the Uoion—thay tiok him
from me sad pot him there. 111. toy nest door &stet-
' boars has does it all. lam nearly out of my mired
about it. I little thought you would have meted so, aa
not to coins or mend when I write to you. I hops ion
will come directly to take a Mile of it off me, al (tie
more than I can beer. I rem a woman with &family of my
own I God forbid ever I aboold think of initially
earring • pear litte thing like Ityggy. it wee the
lest of my thought that there was going to be earth a lot
of lies and gramip as there is about here,
mind to have it put ii the paper. I wrote
t 3 Bill and told him WI shout it, and he
has not anawerod it. If yoo cannot some, send by return
of poet I hoar the policeman hers wrote to you. I have
not seen the suporiotendent shoo, he took him sway,
neither have David or Georg*. If they were here they
would lot them know I did not ill.treat or starve him.
Thank God I am 'anapest.
" Bo no more at preeent. from your well.willeing friend,
B. figinitto."