The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-14 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

LAMBETH.
Mr. Smith, one of Ultimates of the prig of St. Mary
Newington, applied to the Hon. G. C. Norton for the &exist-
ence of an officer of the court to accompany him to a house
in Baker-street, Walworth•road, where he understood a
child was confined and treated in a cruel manner by its
parents.
Mr. Norton desired Spinks, one of the summoning officers,
to accompany the rev. gentleman, and in a short time that
officer brought into court a poor little boy of five years of
age and his mother.
The Rev. Mr. Smith informed his worship that be bad
accompanied the officer to the house, No. 1, Baker-street,
and there found, in a email back room on the third floor,
the poor child then in charge of Ska, in a wretched state.
From what he (Mr. Smith) could learn it appeared that the
poor child we/ the illegitimate offspring of a tradesman, who
at the time of its birth, and subsequently, lived in the Wal-
worth-road, and that eighteen months or two years ago the
mother went to live with a shoemaker earned Basdord, by
whom she had had two other children, and on one ot these a
coroner's inquest had been holden.
Mr. Norton Naked what was the result of that inquiry.
Mr. Smith—l believe it was found that the child had
been overlayed by the mother, and met its death in that
way. The present child, as you will see, Is in a frightful
state, and must have bean shamefully neglected, as Dr.
Riffs, who is present, will inform you.
The poor child, who is tall for his age (five years),
and has a remarkably intelligent countenance, was
here placed standing on the table in front of
the bench, and on his scanty clothing being taken
up by %rinks and his limbs exposed, a cry of horror burst
forth from all parts of the court, for a more pitiable or
shocking sight it was impossible to imagine. The other
parts of the body were squally distressing to behold ; the
breast bone stuck prominently out, es did also the ribs, and
all appeared like a perfect skeleton, covered with a brownish
unhealthy-looking skin. In fact, had the poor little fellow
been exhumed after as months' interment the spectacle
would not have been more homfying.
Dr. Rife, one of the churchwardens of the parish of New-
ington. said that he accompanied the Rev. Mr. Smith and
the officer to the house in Baker-street, where they found
the child in a back room, and he understood that for nine
or twelve months the poor little fellow had not been out of
the room in which he was found. The consequence was that
for want of proper air and intercourse with others the poor
child was becoming idiotic, and for some time after their en-
tering the room he was not able to speak at all. He had
evidently been grossly neglected, and was suffering from
want of proper care and insufficiency of food.
The mother here said she gave the child ell she could
afford, namely, two meals a day. ; and owing to the person
with whom she lived not having mach work, they were
very poor.
In reply to the questions of the magistrate, she admitted
that the child's father allowed her Is. a week from the time
of its birth up to last spring, but since that he had done no-
thing for her.
Mr. Norton—How you could allow a child to be in the
state this poor child is in—for, I confess, I sever saw an
more shocking then the spectacle this poor little
fellow presents—without going to the parish and getting
something done for it, is to Eari surprmieg.
Mother—l did go to the parish and all they offered to do
for me was to take myself and my two children into the
house.
Mr. Norton—What has caused the discolouration of the
child's eye ?
Mother—To tell the truth I did it myself. I etre& b
with the cans.
Spinks, the officer, here produced a cane which he found
in the room, and which the child mid he had been beaten
with by both his mother and Bamford.
Mr. Norton here directed the child to be taken to New-
ington workhouse, and held the mother to bad to appear
on a ruture day, when the case will be further investigated.
Dining the examination the poor child kept exclaiming,
" What a beautiful light r showing. what a contrast it bore
to the darkness of the wretched small room In which he had
been kept a close prisoner for at least the last nine months.