The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-28
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.

SOME OF THE ABUSES TO WHICH UNNATURAL
PARENTS SUBJECT THEIR OFFSPRING.
Poverty and miscry incident to the lives OF tho
majority of Baxter and Mulberry street tenement
occupants but rarely degree as wrctched
that testified TO in tho Court OF SPECIAL Sessions yes
terday in the of the people against Michael and
Roxina Ward. From the evidence OF the officers or
the Society for tho Prevention Of Cruelty 10 Children
it appears that the prisoners, who husband aud
wife arc habitual drnnkards They lived IN tumble
house No. l24 Baxter street, In low damp and
darkcned room, which the sunlight never penetrated
The furniture is the half Of q filthy mattress,
couple OF broken stools, lew broken dishes and a
cracked stove. Tho husband never worked except
procure means TO purchase new supply OF the vile
GIN sold In the neghborng "bucket shops" Tho wife
excelled her husband as u drunkard, having never
model couple The parents Of four children, aged
TOUR and ten years respectively dependen.
upon them for support. How the little ones managed
live 10 their present age is mystery. When found
by the officers they mere walking skeletons.
everything. The children had not eaten mouthfu OF
food Tor nearly iortycignt hours and they were COW
cred from head TO foot with Nth.
Mrs. Flay, one OF the ncghbors, testified that the
Indebtedness and starvation OF the children bcggared
description" she gave them food and notified The
police Officer Lundburg, OF the society, gave notice
that tho children we're almost naked and as cold as
they were hungry. Hc and Oncer Mcclure were
obliged TO borrow clothing Tor them before tcy could
remove them rom the house
The father and mother wore each scn,enced TO SIX
months In the Pcritcntiary, and the children were
taken charge OF by the society
Az oyERwoRKED CHILD.
Another case was that, OF Vincent Fina, 40 Italian
ragpickcr, living at No. Is Marion street He was
seen plying his vocation by an officer early Monday
morning A weak. puny boy OF about eight years OF
age was following him. The child had on his back q
bundle OF rags that weighed nearly hfty pounds. He
staggered along under the weight, trying TO keep
IN tho wake VI the man, who occasionally
turned around and roughly urged him 10
greater speed. On reaching an ash barrel
tho child placed the bundle upon II in order to rest
The man turned upon him with an oath and babe him
hurry along Tho child made an effort 10 get the bundle
again on his back, his strength was gone, and he
fell down IN the gutter exhausted. AT this juncturc
Ocer Scg arrested the hardhcarted man, Who proved
to be the chld's father. Inc cruelty was also wit
messed by Mr. Walter summers OF No. 30 West Ninth
street. VINO gave evidence 10 tbat elect IN court
Fina was the Penitentary Tor one month, and
the child was taken charge OF by the society
Mary Casey, iookng woman OF forty years OF
age was found In a state Of gross intoxIcation by
Ofnccr Lcary. She was walking down Pearl street
m the heavy rain. leading by tho hnbd ragged little
boy of four years, who barcootcd and barchcaded
Tho woman's face bleeding proiusciy IRON n cut
which she had evidently received 10y tall.
Tho officer took her 10 the Tonbs Police Court, and
| Mo was sent TO prison TOR ten days Tue child was
R'ssu over to the Society,"