Star.
London, England, 1818-12-01 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

IUELTY OF A FATHF.R AND MOTHLR. TO Timm
OWN CHILD.
yesterday Charles Elliott,and Leonora his wife,

put to the bar,. charged with. a misdemeanour
,-creating their son, Russel Elliott, an infint of
years old, by keeping him tied sith a leather
to a bedstead quite naked, and very often with-
sufficiency of the common necessaries of life.
Rayrzor.os•, who conducted the nrosecution,
to the J •re, that it. was instituted by the Go-
vernors and Dirictors of thc. Poor of the parish
St. Andrew's, Holborn. The poor infant, whose suf-
ferings hid induced them to take the present step.
the son of the defendants, and as it would ap-
m idiot from its cradle ; it also laboured under
weakness, having lost the perfect use of all,its
Mr. Reynolds Bien went into a statement of
particulars of the case, in support of which he
produced the following evidence:
Mrs. Lee, a genteel looking young woman, being
'ern, gave the following statement arts a
w and the mother of two shildren. In the
. of June last I Went as servant to Miss Mat-
as, to lodge at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott,
Fisher-street, Red Lion-square. About a fortnight
came there, while I was making up the bed I
a cry in a faint voice, as if from some person
,stress. I listened fur awhile, and heard the
voice call out in a very mournful manner for a
tread and water ; not knowing that there were
!her per ons in the house than tho,e I had al-
seen, I became alarmed, and was quite anxi-
ascertain from whom the voice had proceeded.
up stairs, and heard the same ioice, as if from
ild in the upper garret. I looked in through the
tole, but from the situation of the MOM I could;

see a bedstead. I then called out, and ryas
swered by a child from within. I asked what it wanted;
_ said,'' Give me a little bread and a little water.'
lamed for the situation of the child, whom I sup-
to have been neglected by the family, I went
a and communicated what I had heard to my
mistress, and by her permission, I went down and
Mrs. Elliott, (the mother) that a child up stairs
:alling out for bread. She salt! I was mistaken,
replied that it could no(be, for I had spoken
child, who had mad me it wanted bread. To
.ne answered Oh !itis my fool.' She gave me
further explanation then, and I was still in anxiety
the situation of the child, and was quite anxi-
have a view of it.. I believe it was next day
day after that, I saw the brother of the child
stairs. I followed him, and found that he was

to the attic wl.ere the young child was con-
When I saw him open the door I asked to be
admitted, but he refused, saying that his mother
Would be displeased if she found that any person but
eof the family were to see him. I still persisted,
forced my way into the room, where I beheld a
:tacle That quite shocked mc. The poor child
naked as it came into the world, and fastened
leather strap to the post of a bedstead : the strai•
fastened over one shoulder, and came round un-
the opposite arm : the stench of the room, from
'lth with which the child was surrounded, was
insupportable ; the boy who came to visit it
brought with him a few crusts of bread and
water: after this I frequently heard the child
.4 it some person was beating it: I also heard
sounds of slaps, as given to it ; but they did not'
tb be severe, nor as if given with any improper
weapon ; I knew that his brother and sister fre-
qUently beat him." When asked whether she had
spoken to Mrs. Elliott: on the subject, after the
interview, witness answered, " Yes, very fre-
quently ; I often said to her Surely you may send
the poor child to the workhouse, where be will be
clean, and every attention paid to him without
expense.' To this she replied, that would cost
oo much.' I asked her how much it would cost?
she answered, it would cost 2 or Ss. a week, and