The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

SHOCKING TREATMENT OP A DAUGHTER.

A case has just been brought to light at Parkgate,
near Rotherham, showing the moat shocking and inhuman
treatment of a daughter by her father and stepmother. The
matter is creating a considerable stir, sad is freely canvassed
in the locality, but it would be premature to mention names.
For several years it has been well known in the neighbour-
hood of Parkgate that a young woman was shut up in the
house of her parents, but for what reason and under what cir-
cumstanoseno one knew. Persons who have occasionally heard
her crier and feared she was subjected to cruel treatment
have spoken of it to the police and others, but nothing
was done to ascertain the real condition of the girL Lest
Saturday night, however, she seized a favourable opportu-
nity and eansped to the house of • neighbour. Her
appearance excited feelings of horror, and the tale she told
of the sufferings she bad undergone could scarcely be cre-
dited. She returned to her "home," and information was
given to the police. On the following morning, Sergeant
Horne went to the father's house and insisted upon seeing his
daughter. After some little hesitation site was called, and an
object presented itself that could scarcely be reoesniaed ss •
human being. Wrapped around her were a few rap in •
meet filthy condition ; her eyes were black and nearly
closed ; her lips were swollen to as enormous size ; and on
one of her ears was a large wound, from which blood
was flowing. Her features were shrunken sad die.
torted, and altogether her appearance was of the most
sickening description. The officer tried every means
to induce her to speak, but he was unable to elicit a
word from her. He then asked to be shown the room
from which she was called, and a small place like •
recess on the stairs landing was pointed out to him.
There was just room in it for what was used as •
bedstead, but which was in reality a heap of filth,
and the place was in a most disgusting state. Persons
who live near state that it is at lead fourteen years
since the poor creature disappeared, and they speak of her
as being then about fourteen years of age, and a lively intel-
ligent girl. Although she is now therefore shout twetity.
eight years of age, she is not so tall as an ordinary girl of
twelve—having rather diminished in stature than grown
during her long and dreary inearcoratioo. As soon as the
facts of the case became known to Superintendent Gillett,
steps were taken with the view of bringing the matter before
the proper authorities. At the meeting of the board of guar-
dians oar Monday the cue was brought before them by Mr.
Oxley, of Parkgate, and an investigation was ordered to be
made. The most extraordinary feature in the case is that
the father is in comfortable circumstances, and well able to
support his daughter peoperly.—Najjidd Independent.

ATTEMPTED MURDER NEAR STA M FORD. —Ann
Webster, the wife of • farming man living at a somewhat
lamely cottage at Castertan, near Stamford, was, on
Saturday evening, fired at by some ace outside, receiving
part of the charge in bee head. She rushed out of the
house and haw • man whom she did not know, and then ran
to the farm residence of Mr. Dawson, several hundred
yards distant, where she arrived bleeding. In the
meantime, however, two labourete who had paned
the house but •• few minutes before ea their
way home heard the report of • gun, followed
by shrieks. They turned back in the direction
whence the noise came, 'bee the y maw • man
running down the road leading from the house and coming
towards them. They state they saw him hide something
i• a rut in the road, and afterward, pick it up sad throw
it in a hedge. They stopped him and raked him what he
had done, and he replied that he had dose nothing. They
took him back to where they saw him throw something in
the hedge, and there found a gun, whereupon he wan con-
veyed to Mr. Dawrion's and haodcuffed. What could have
led to the commission of the act cannot at present be stir
factorily ascertained. The woman, it is thought, will re-
cover. —Sheffield Ihdependent.
THE bIORDER IN WILTSHIIM—The inquiry by
the magistrates into this case terminated on Tuesday. Four
persons were originally apprehended on the charge. On
Saturday the two youngest were set at liberty, and the
other two, named Hicks and Kendall, remanded. At the
examination ma Tuesday • woman named Hall stated in
evidence that on Hicks being told that deceased (whets in
custody on a charge of stealing donkeys) had implicated him
aa having two of the animals, he (Hicks) flew into • passim,
and said deceased ought to have his tongue pulled out. It was
shown by Saperiotendent Wright that • toe.tip on Hicks's
boot, which attracted attention on hie being apprehended,
was, on his being searched at the station next morning,
missing, and he denied having taken it off, or knew what
bad become of it. A portion of it was afterwards found
inside a ventilator of Lis cell. At the close of the evidence
Mr. Min applied for Keodall's discharge, es there was
clothing to warrant bis committal. To this the beach,
after • private coosultation, consented, but intimated that
Hicks must go for trial. His counsel therefore declined to
say anything, and he was committed for trial at the next
arises.

THE EIRE AT laWlBllA3l.—This fire is suspected
to be the work of an ioaendiary, arid in the cotuee of
the day Samuel Dorman, aged 2i, describing himself as
a labourer, from Lincoln, was brought up at the Green-
wich Police Court, charged with being the guilty party.
Inspector Townsend identified the prisoner as a man who
worked at the engine at this fire, and also at a fire on m.a
adjoining farm a fortnight previously, about the same tame
in the morning and under similar mysterious circumstances,
when farm produce valred at 5067. was destroyed. In con-
sequence of this he called the prisoner from the eosins and
questioned him as to where he bad passed the night. The
prisoner replied that be had slept at • beer-shop near the
Lewisham toll-gate, ad that having heard the alarm of
" Fire" be got up and dressed himself and went to it.
This was within three-quarters of an hour of the fire
first brooking out, sod the distance to the spot when
the prisoner said he had slept was two miles and a half.
The prisoner was then searched, and in the breast of his
shirt was found the straw of • bead of rata, and on the back
of the blouse he was wearing, and also in his boots, were
traces of his having been lying among straw. The prisoner
was thee asked if he was • smoker, and carried Inciters
about with him. lie replied that he did not ; but on being
searched the limiter, produced were found in his waistcoat
pocket. The prisoner bad since been taken by a constable
to point out the beershop at which he said be bad slept, but
bad failed to do so. The prisoner, in answer to the magis-
trate, said he let himself out of the house uoksown to the
landlord, but as be had only engaged his lied at ten o'clock
the previous night, and he had never before been to the
house, be woe unable to point it oat to the constable. Yr.
Traill said the evidence was very suspicious against him, and
he would, therefore, be remanded for a week.
It is now conclusively established that no other
Oil ran possibly produce the same beneficial effecta as Dr. de
Jonah's oil on the consumptive invalid. A. tliattaway. goo.,
Surgeon, of Leominster, writes Having far setae yean ea.
tenotely used Dr. de Jonah's Light Brown Cod Liver Oil.
both In public and private practice, Is the treatment of ear
am-option, I have us hesitation le stating Its effects are veil far
Amportor to thuwe of soy other Cod Liver Oil." Sold only Is
capsuled bottles, ra. Oil, 40. 9d., sod es, by the ode Annie,
Ansa.% Harlon!, and Co., 17, Wand. Landon, and cheiststa.-
[Ativertioement].