The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-24 00:00:00

CiIARGE OF CRUEL NEGLECT OF A

CHILD.

An inquiry has lately taken place before the
borough magistrates at Morpeth, on a warrant
granted by Mr. Orde, a magistrate of Northumber-
land, touching the alleged ill-treatment and starva-
tion of one Isabella Jane Rutledge, an infant of
tender years, at which circumstances have been
elicited causing a painful feeling among the inhabi-
tants of the town and neighbourhood, and a strong
manifestation of public indignation. The investi-
gation was mainly instituted at the instance of the
Hon. and Rev. Francis Richard Grey, the rector of
Morpeth, a hrother of Earl Grey, and a brother-in-
law of the Earl of Carlisle, a hard-working clergy-
man, who is held in much esteem there, and has
been the incumbent for nearly 20 years. A general
impression prevails in the locality that, but for his
humane and timely interference, the child in ques-
tion must have perished. The persons charged
with neglecting it are man named John Cowens and
Isabella. his wife, the former of whom has for some
years past acted as a warder in the county gaol of
Northumberland, and has until now, it is said,
borne an irreproachable character. Some time ago
he sustained injuries, resulting in permanent lame-
ness, while in pursuit of a fugitive prisoner, with
whom he had a struggle. He and his wife have
latterly resided in a little cottage, consisting of two
rooms, formerly used as a toll-house at the bridge,
on the south entrance to the town. The subject of
the inquiry is a child of nearly six years of age, the
illegitimate offspring of a sister of the female pri-
soner, to whom and to her husband it was confided
while the mother was at domestic service at a dis-
tance, and who are understood to have received
money for its maintenance from the reputed father,
a person of means.
The investigation, which lasted over three sit-
tings, was held in the Council-chamber, which was
crowded, before Mr. M. J. O'Connor, the Mayor,
and Mr. Hugh Creighton, another of the borough
magistrates.
The prisoners were defended by Mr. C. S. Swan,
a solicitor.
The Hon. and Rev. F, R. Grey was the first wit-
ness called. He said on Monday, the 15th of July,
having heard that a child was living in the house
of the prisoners in a dreadful state, he went there
between 11 and 12 o'clock in the morning, and
found Mrs. Cowens in the house. A healthy child,
well-dressed and clean, was sitting upon a table
near a window. He asked her if the child was
hers. She replied it was. He inquired if she had
another child under her care. She said she had.
He saw an open door in a corner of the room, and
asked if it led to where the child was. She replied
" Yes." He said he should walk through and have
a look at it. He went and saw in a back yard a
miserable little child. He had seen many wretched
children, but never one so bad as it. It was like a
skeleton, and was covered with filth. It had on a
dirty petticoat and jacket, and was without shoes
or stockings. The yard in which it was had a
watercloset at one end, and an ashpit near it. The
child was at first standing near the ashpit, and was
afterwards breaking sandstone on the step of the
watercloset door. He returned to the house, and
spoke to the female prisoner about it. He told her
that it was a disgrace for any child to be in such a
state, and pointed out the difference between her
own child and it. He mentioned particularly the
filthy condition in which it was. She said thechild
was not dirty. The words she used were, "It is
skin clean." He complained of the way in which
the child was clothed. She replied it was not
dressed, and that she had a child of her own in bed
and not then dressed. He then said nobody could
' look at the child without seeing it was in very bad
health. He asked if it had been seen by a medical
man. She replied that Dr. Paton had seen it. He in-
quired how long ago. She said not since the winter.
He complained again of the condition in which the
child was, upon which she said it was a great burden
to her, or words to that effect. He asked if she
meant to say that she had not received anything
for taking care of it. She admitted that she had,
adding that it was not likely she would keep the
child for nothing. He then told her he should feel
it his duty to bring the case before the magistrates.
He left the house and went to the Visiting Justices,
"who were sitting at the county gaol, and gave
information.
By Mr. Swan, on behalf of the prisoners—When
he saw the child in the yard it was breaking little
pieces of sandstone. He had never seen it before.
The female prisoner used an expression to the effect
that the child was a burden to her. Mr. Grey (the
witness) added on a subsequent examination that
1 he had seen the child twice since Monday, the 15th
s of July—namely, on the 17th and 19th of July.
He was present when the magistrates visited the
. prisoners' house on the 17th, and heard what passed.
The superintendent of police asked the child where
bad children went to. It replied, "To gaol." He
asked it where good children went to. It answered
"To school." In reply to other questions, it stated
that it had tea and coffee for food, that it was 20
years old; and it pointed out the place where it
slept—a cradle in the kitchen. He (witness) saw
the child on Friday, the 19th of July, in the work-
house. It was then playing with some flowers.
To questions he put it said it liked being there, and
would not like to go home. It had some knowledge
of the Lord's Prayer.
Mr. William Brown, master of the union work-
house, said the child was Nought to the work-
house on the 17th of July. It was weighed, an d
its weight then, without its clothes, was 161 b.
14oz. It was weighed again on the 27th of July,
and was 201 b. soz. The child's whole person, when
it was brought to the workhouse, was filthy and
its head infested with vermin. He had watched
the food the child had taken. It had not re-
ceived any medicine from the time of its admission.
(Witness described in some detail the nutritious
diet upon which it had been put in the work-
house from day to day.) On Saturday morning,
the 3d of August, tIP child weighed 221 b. 60z.,
making a total gain of 521 b. in 17 days.
Mr. Matthew Brume'', a surgeon, said at the
request of the magistrates he visited the child on
Thursday, the 18th of July. On examination he
Every
particle it in a very emaciated condition.
particle of fat was absorbed, and the muscles were
exceedingly wasted. The bones were almostr marks of
except with skin. He found no in
violence or ill usage upon it. He considereda ffie
child's health delicate, but found 210 disease sumo
cient to account for its extreme emaciation.T
child was then five years and nine months old._ On
Thursday, the 18th of July, it weighed 171b.0z.d
.t 1
had
gained the 20th of July, when he saw it weighed, a
gained 8-toz. ; and on the 27th it weighed 201 b. and
50z., having gained daily upon an average
nearly
6ez. Since its admission to the workhouseit
bulk. h d
gone on steadily improving and increasing in
The colour and appearance of its skin were quite
.
altered, the unhealthy hue and harsh feeling having,
left it. On Thursday, the 18th July, the child s
thigh, which he measured, was six inches round,
end on Wednesday, the 24th, it was nearly seven
inches. The change had been brought about by
proper diet, warmth, and attention.
Cross examined—The child answered pertinently
all questions put to it, except as to its age,
which it
stated to be 20 years. The child had been delicate
for years. It might be suffering from mesenteric
disease. A child subject to such disease would
as
thrive better in summer than winter ; but thatve
a matter of opinion. He had not noticed a shaking
te
of the head by the child. If a child were
by mesenteric disease to the extent this child
emaciated, it would not improve in the degree was
had by .any amount of nutritious diet. emaciated
by this
There
no disease about it to account for its emaciation.
By thy ;Court---That emaciation, in his opinion,