The Sun.
London, England, 1817-07-02 00:00:00

CASE OF EXTRENIF. CRUELTY.

George Barber, a weaver, of York-street, Beth.
nal-green, eras pnt to the Bar, npowart- indict•
meat which charged him with a series of cruelties
to his apprentice, Mary Elder, a child apparently
11 years of age.—The Court was much clouded,
the interest excited by this case being very great;
and -the witnesses numerous.---The parish of St.
John, Hackney, instituted the prosecution, which
was conducted by Mr. ALLEY and Mr. ANDREW,.
Mr. ALLEY stated the case. '
The object of persecution was then called and
examined. Her- evidence was to the following

effect •
Before she was bound to the defendant, the
treatment she received for the few days of experi-
ment was unexceptionable.--She, of course, wil-
lingly entered the service, but was soon
pointed in her hopes. Her master took si pleit.
sure-in beating her-with a cane, a shuttle, and a
tremendous instrument called a Brent, with whicht
he frequently struck her on the head and legs.--.!
The pretence for this brutality was the inability
of the childtO do thework which the defendant
assigped-tO her. The severities to which she was
thus exposed, reduced her in six mouths to a state
from which it Was generally supposed she would
never recover. Her frame was the less able to
endure such treatment, as her master applied a
systeM of torture to her stomach, which was pro-
portioned, as near as he could guess, to',the pal*
he inflicted on her head and legs—the agony of
hunger. Site had been without dinner for tuaii
days, and 'waver tid to ask for any, as the: request
would 'but afford her master a new pretext for go-
ing to his favourite amusement of raising lumps
on her head, cutting her shins, and dashing hei•
against the gronild.. filer master's •wVe alien said,
she could not endure to see such abominable treat-
ment but her expostulations had the effect of
increasing tie punishment. At length, when the
poor Child's appearance gave 'undeniable evidence
of her sufferings, information. was given to the
parkh to which she belonged, The Overseer
rescued her front death.—Upou being brought
to
the Woikhonse; her 'wOittins were dressed. and
time and care brought her to a slight. resemblance
. of, what she hall once been. •
Upon her cross-exmnination, shy said she
well
knew 'the nature of an oath; and never rethem-heredhaving•cut work out of a frame, or having
done any _thing out, of spite to her master. -
Thomas Davit, who livts next door to the cle..
fendant's house, knew the child to have been ill
excellent health about two years ago:, %%inn.% she
was bound apprentice, and perceived in twelve
months a great change in her. He and his family
heard moaning and groaningiroM her almost every
day for the last twelve months, and frequently
gave her bread upon her complaioing.that she had
no food. Insmediately before she was taken front
the house by the Overseers, there "was not a bit of
flesh upon her: 'Her bones lipi*tared brealing
,t,through her skin,. and -she looked a perfect ske.
leton.
• Mr. Langmore, a snigeon, examined the chili
on the 3e. oP May,. at Worship-street. She was
exceedingly emaciated., anti her stomach revolted
from food for several days ; this he ascribed to
hunger.' There was also 'a dropsical appearance
in her legs and hands, attributable Othe iatne
cause. Upon her toes were ulcerated citiiblaini,
the consequence of the most god neglect, and on,
One of 4er.legs was a large tritise, apparently f.roui
stiCk. -The first; secOndland'-fifird days or
witness's atten.lance -upon' tier, 'the stomach
re-
volted.from food, but by great care she s
reco-
vering. Poultices were applied to her feet to pre..
vent mortification. 'She conldnot have lived ano.

ther month under sod} circumstances.
Mr. Ashby, the Overseer, devosed as to.the
health of the child when she was bound, and the
extreme wretthedness in whiCh be found her at
her master's house, from which he took her under

a warrant.
Mr. ADOLPHUS, for the. defendant, saitl he hail
no proof against all this. The case had been
'daily made out, and much prais.c-Was due to the
Overseer of the parish., for the alacrity With
which he had interposed.
Mr. ADOLPHUS had previously cross-examined
allsthe witoeSscS, but there 'appeajea Oottliti to
throw the slightest doubt -upon-their evidence;—,
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. ••
The CHAIRMAN, after having consulted with
the Magistrates on each side, said—.
" Prisoner, you have been found guilty: of a most serious
crime... There is.something so yepiignant, in your conduct to
this poor infant; to all the laws of humanity, :Ind all the
feelings of a parent, a character which with surpriz'e t Warm
that you hear, as to render it extremely.ditlietilt to appor-
tion your punishdent to your offence. If _tie unfortunate
victim had not been .taken from vour.execrable.powar. You
xould most probably ha‘;e forfeited your life upon the charge_
of having taker' hers. It. is.a disgrace, to. the country
.tliat a
wretch, eapahle of such cruelty towards an unprotected in-
fant, should hclound in. it.: 1 willinarklour offence so as tu,
deter. others from the wickedness of imitatiug it.. hfle scn.
'ttnee of the'Court is--that you be iinprined Two Yeats
in
the House of Correction; where I hope, in your solitary
you will exercise that part of the religion you have instactal
by .your hypocrisy—Repentance." . , : • •
Upon the motion of Mr. ALLEY, the indenture
.of-the- child was immediately cancelled.

COAL MARKT, JUN!, 30. •
Ships at Market. Ships sold. rricC.
4Si,Nevccastle
4 Sunderland.... .3 :;3s. Od.tv 3.bs. 94.

BIRTHS. • 4 ,
.• •
On Monday last, in Upper Seymour-street. the Lady of
Major Pane, M.P. of a still. . .
La ,!ly,..in Clifford-street, the. Lady of Charles Mitford, Esq.
of a sun.

MARRIED.
- •
Yesterday, at St.lanies's Church, Dr. Thomson, Deputy
Inspector of Hospitals, to Louisa, younpst daughter of the
late Frederick Trmison, Esq. of Kensington.
Same clay, at .Mary-le-bone Church. nijor Gabriel, of the
id Dragoon Guards, to Marian, daughter of the late Colonel
Charles Russell Deare, of the Bengal- Artillery.

1)1E1). ~. • • -•• •
On the alt. suddenly, of apoplexy, Isaac Warner,of
Great Ea4"-Cheali, eldest sou of Isaac Warner, Esq. of the
Paragon, Blackheath. • . • •
On the 28th ult. of an apoplexy, at Nnnney, Sornersetgliire,
ittthe 48th year of his age, the Rev. Francis Minsbull, Rector
of that parish. . .
. .

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