The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-30 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

..-.. -.

MANBION-HOIIBE.
Jaws Hominy and Alia Heristesty, his wife, were
brought before the Lord Msyor for final examination, upon
the charge of having neglected and starved their child,
Peter Hennessy, an infant, between two and three years
of age.
D. Carter (82) said—At ten o'clock on Wednesday morn-
ing, the 22nd inst., I went to a room at No. 1, Montague-
court, Biahopmaterstreet, and saw the male prisoner and •
little child. There was scarcely any furniture, and there
was no food there. The child had scarcely any clothing on,'
and its head and face were covered all over with sores. I
asked the man how it was that the child had been without
food. He said the mother got drank and neglected it, and
sold the furnitur, and spent the seam. Patrick M'Donald,
• witness is the case, told me in the presence of both pri-
soner. that they both got drunk and neglected the child.
The mace did not make any reply. I took him into custody,
and I took the child to Mr. Fowler, a surgeon of the pariah.
Patrick M'Donald said—l live in the house No. 1, Mon-
trigne.court. On Tuesday, upon coming up at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon, I beard screams, and went upstairs to the
room occupied by the primmer,. In the middle of thr floor
the child was lying, leaning on its hands, crying, on the bare
boards. There was neither food nor furniture in the room.
The man is a tailor. I put the child on a bed of straw, and
when they had found I had done so, they locked the child
up until they came back again, about ten o'clock at night.
I have kept my eye on them ever sines Good Friday.
The Lord Mayor—What induced you to keep your eye
on them ?

Witness—l knew that they had behaved ill to a child
before. I again saw the child about 7or 8 o'clock on Wed-
nesday morning. It was caked and alone, cud there was
no food in the room. I gays information to the police, end
be male prisoner returned home at 10 o'clock. I did not see
the wife. He works at home usually as a tailor, and
the goes out to to sell what he makes. They were tenants
of mine at 21. a week, and took the room about two months
ago. I don't know that a day has passed that the women
has not been drunk since they have lodged at my house.
TOO male prisoner has been very frequently drunk too.
Through hoe getting drunk he ustd to get drunk. My wife
hes twice washed the child to keep it clean. About three
weeks ago I went into the room at 8 o'clock in the evening,
and looked all round, without seeing the child. At last, I
saw the child in the middle of the room, lying on its face
and hands, with an old coat over it. The prisoners did not
some home till 12 o'clock, and then they were both drunk
This sort of conduct continued every day till they were in
custody. The man ia a hard working man, early and late,
when sober, and, in my opinion, they could get an excellent
living bet for their drunkenness. When I ha-. 01 spoken to the
woman about their late hours and intoxication, she said it
was &habit of theirs.

Rebecca Williamson—l reside in the same house. On
Tuesday I heard the child crying, and Mr. M'Doneld asked
me to go up stairs to see it. The child was lying naked on
straw on the Boor, and the straws were sticking in the sores
on its body. It was too weak to get up. I asked the
male prisoner on Tuesday, at ten o'clock, " Dear me, has the
child had anything to eat to-day ?" " No," he replied, "it
hadn't anything since yesterday." I have often seen the
two prisoners drunk. and they generally came home in that
condition at 12 or 1 o'clock in the morning.
Mr. Robert Fowler, of 146, Bishopegate-street, surgeon,
said—On the 22nd August the officer brought to me a little
buy, about two years and a half old. The child was exceed-
ingly dirty, and al.iost the whole of the body was coveted
with an eruption, in the ■ f a skin disease, from the
neglected state of the child, which had of ectito the system.
The eruption itself derives its name from that condition of
the system, and would re seperinduced by improper food,
or want of proper food, and neglect of cleanliness. The eyes
of the child were also inflamed, which also might be
mounted for by the state of the system. Some of the sores
were open or raw sores. and some were scabbed over. The
pulse was exceedingly feeble, and the whole frame indicated
that the child had not had sufficient food. The body, but
11201 V especially the limbo, were emaciated, and that in-
dicated insufficient nourishment. I think that internal
disowns of the glands of the intestines had commenced, a
disease which would also be favoured by want of food and
neglect.
Crew-examined by the male prisoner—I believe the
oondition of the child was caused by want of food.
Mary Gunn, widow—l reside at No. 8, in Montague-
court. 1 have have seen the primmer about lie or seven
weeks. I saw the child alluded to till this day week,
when I went into the room at ten o'clock in the morning. I
Both prisoners were out at the time. A little boy, about 10
years old, wan in the room. I saw the child perfectly naked
lytag on some straw in the corner. A dirty sort of rag was
thrown over it. The child said it had nothing to eat, and
I went and got some bread and butter for it. The child
took the bread and butter in its hand, but it did not move
nor pat its band to its mouth. I lifted the head, but the
head fell on one side, evidently from weakness. I
saw a child so dirty in my life. I could not stand the sight,
and I went to the bottom of the court and gave information
to the police. I have only seen the prisoners five or six
times. The lather came into the hoax as I went oat, but I
did not speak to him.
. .

The Lied Mayor uked, according to the usual form,
whether the prisoners wished to say anything ha answer to
the very canon• charge brought against them ?
The male prisoner said—l always work very bard, and I
always found plenty of food for the child. The child was in
the habit of lay lug its head on my knee when I have been
at work.

The female prisoner said—l had been out all day from
twelve o'clock till eight in the awning, and I always lean
somebody with the child.
The two prisoners were then committed for trial a: the
Ceafral Criminal Cuort.

The Polteetnan—My lord, I have seen the child this
morning. It is clean, and looks much better and stronger.
James Moans was brought up.
J D Little (60) said : From information which I re-
ceived yesterday 1 took the prisoner into custody in Leaden-
hall-street, and asked him whether he had not got some had
notes in his pchscasior. He said, " Yes," and when I edged
to se* tbesa,be hay ded them tome from his waisteeat pocket.
H. raid he had picked them up between Drentford and
Hounslow. I took him to the station-touse and found some
papers upon him. The notes, which ere for the amount of
251. altogether, have not, as I haws bass informed, bee.
stopped at the Bank.
The ca.e was remanded, and a strict inquiry was ordered
to be made.