The Sun. — 1847-11-25 (London, England)

BOW-STREET. Mrs. Williams, the matron of the Mendicity Society, was charged with cruelly beating and kicking a boy, named Maurice Welsh, aged 13, and thereby endangering his life. Mr. Ferguson, chief clerk to the society, attended to hear the case, and stated that the defendant had held the situation of matron for fifteen years without any previous complaint against her.  The boy's sister, an Irish girl, stated that she and her brother were employed by the society to pick oakum, in a room set apart for that purpose. The boy gave some offence to the woman who distributed the food, upon which she complained to the defendant, who rushed upon him in a violent manner, knocked him down, and kicked and beat him with a cane while lying on the ground. The boy screamed for help, and on being taken up fainted away. He was afterwards removed to the King's College Hospital. A certificate from the house surgeon of the hospital proved that the boy was suffering from a concussion of the brain and other injuries, and that bis life was in danger therefrom.  Several other Irish women, all dependent on the Mendicity Society, and present at the time of the occurrence, admitted the ill-treatment of the boy, but gave their evidence with a reluctance which clearly showed their anxiety to avoid displeasing " the Missus," as they termed the defendant. Mary Ann Shuter, who distributed the food, said that the boy knocked some bread and cheese out of her hand and spat in her face, upon which she complained:of his conduct to Mrs. Williams, who did no more than just push him down and stamp her foot upon him, as any one else might do, without hurting bim. She only stamped upon his legs. The boy cried very loudly and made a great noise, but witness did not believe he was much hurt. Some women went and fetched the cane, and the defendant certainly did strike him with it once or twice while he was on the ground, but not to hurt him much. When the boy got up he walked to his sister, and might have partially fainted; but if he did, witness believed it was through passion more than anything else. She saw his face washed in water. Witness had heard that the boy was much hurt, but it must have been with the fall, as the defendant could not have caused it. She believed that Mrs. Williams sent for the doctor herself. _ _  Bridget Daly did not think Mrs. Williams hurt the boy much. She had a " mighty way" of "pushing you" by the shoulders, and this was how the boy came to fall ; but she believed he only pretended ,fainting. The boy cried " Murder," and made a peat noise, and "Missus" threatened to thrash him with the cane, which she did. She also kicked him with the top of her toe when he was down, but not to hurt him.  Mary Brian corroborated most of the evidence of the boy's sister, and said she believed the boy had been " sarcy" to the woman who gave out the food. The defendant denied that she had used any unnecessary violence, although greatly provoked by the boy's refractory conduct. The Court little knew what these boys were. She reminded his Worship that she was the first to send fora doctor when she found how the boy was hurt. Mr. HENRY said, there had been much violence used in correcting the boy, as was admitted on all ; and, as he was lying in a dangerous state, no should remand the case for a week. His Worship consented to admit the defendant to bail.