The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-22 00:00:00

CRUELTY TO A WARD IN CHANCERY

In the Rolls Court, Dublin, on Saturday, the case of
Miss Pauline Roche excited considerable interest. It
was a minor matter, the question before the court being
whether the guardian should pay the costs of proceedings
consequent upon an alleged system of cruelty practised
towards her. The facts of the case were these--the
minor, Paulina Roche, is the daughter of the sister
of Dr. John Roche O'Bryau, and Mr. Robert H.
O'Bryan, of Queenstown, Cork. She (Mrs. Roche) died
in the year 1836, at which period the minor was only
eleven months old. She was left by the mother to the
care of Dr. O'Bryan, of Clifton, Bristol, and a mainte-
nance was allowed him for her support, which was to
increase from time to time, till it amounted to 1391. per
annum. She was entitled to a fortune of 10,0001., the
greater portion of which (7,0001. or 6,0001.) had been
realised. Miss Roche was a young lady whose consti-
tution was delicate, and, therefore, it was contended
she required great care and attention, instead of which
she was provided with bad food, clothes, and was de-
prived of such necessaries as sugar and butter ; she was
likewise deprived of horse exercise, which was indis-
pensable to her health. A pony, the bequest of a
dying patient, was given to her ; and when she was
deprived of this a carriage horse was procured, which
kicked her of his back, and she refused ever again
to mount him. She also complained that upon
two occasions her (guardian) beat her severely—that
he made her a housekeeper and governess to the younger
children— that he led her to believe she was dependent
upon his benevolence—and, further, that she was not
permitted to dine with him and his wife, but was sent
down to the kitchen with the children and the servants.
Having endured this treatment for a long period, she fled
from his house to that of another uncle. To these
charges Dr. O'Bryan replied that he had treated his
niece with kindness—that her preservation from consump-
tion was solely ascribable to his judicious and skilful
treatment—that he caused her to be well educated—
bad given her many accomplishment,, and a horse to
ride, which was not a carriage horse, but an excellent
lady's horse—that she upon two occasions told him un-
truths which required correction, and that he would
have punished his own children much more eerevely.
The Master of the Rolls, at the close of the case, observed
that there could not be any doubt that she was treated
with cruelty. If, he said, the Court of Chancery allowed
the guardian 1391. a-year for the maintenance of the
minor, it is not to be supposed it was intended that she
should not breakfast and dine with her uncle and his
wife. It is perfectly clear to my mind that the
young lady was kept in ignorance of the state of her cir-
cumstances up to a late period. The only matter which
remains for me to decide is in reference to the costs of
these proceedings. Am Ito visit Dr. O'Bryan with the
costs, or merely to deprive him of his own costs ? Be-
fore I finally dispose of the case, I shall turn the matter
in my mind ; at present I an prepared to say I con-
sider his conduct to have been such as to disentitle him
to be paid a shilling of the costs to which he himself has
beer put. It is a severe punishment in itself to have this
matter discussed in a court of justice. I think that
Mr. Orpen is entitled to his costs. The step taken by
him was with the sanction of the Lord Chancellor, and
it is perfectly plain he is to be in lemeilled.

MARRIAGE EXTRAORDINARY. —Tom Thumb, the eele-
brat,:d little great man, was married at Webster on
Thursday'la-it to Miss Vinton, of Bridgeport, Connecti.
cut.---Boston Herald.