THE
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KINDLY PASS ON THIS PAPER WHEN READ.
11
Child's Guardian
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
NEW SERIES
VOLUME XL. NUMBER 4.
EDITED BY WILLIAM J. ELLIOTT.
THE SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 188 4.
LONDON, APRIL, 1930.
Criticism-and the Facts.
More than the ordinary amount of comment on one of the Society's cases, which ended in a prosecu- tion before the Magistrates, was made when a case was heard recently at Leicester. Two defen- dants were charged with gross neglect of two children, the father being sent to prison for six months with hard labour and the daughter of nineteen, who kept house for him, for three months with hard labour. Correspondents in the Press have, in two or three instances, suggested that the punish- ment of the girl was excessive, and one journal has expressed the view that the Society ought not to have preferred a charge against her.
Criticism of magisterial decisions, so far as they are concerned with the Society's cases, has hitherto invariably been that the sentences imposed were too lenient. An almost regular feature of the Director's correspondence is the letter which asks what the Society is doing to stir up public opinion in regard to sentences imposed by Justices, which the writer avers are felt to be inadequate. The reply sent in respect of such communications is always to the effect that the Society cannot act as both prosecutor and judge. Our position is that we present the facts to the Court and there our responsibility ends. The Magistrates, who, after all, are possessed of local knowledge, have the benefit of hearing the evidence and seeing those persons of whose conduct there is cause for com- plaint. The Society has nothing to do with the inflicting of penalties, the limits of which are clearly defined by Act of Parliament. The same is true when, as in the present instance, a few persons express the opinion that more than justice has been done.
In this case objection appears to have been raised that a girl of nineteen should have been sent to prison, and in one quarter, as has been stated, the opinion has been put forward that the Society ought not to have included this girl in the charge.
The facts of the case were as follows:-The local Inspector received a complaint that two boys, aged respectively twelve and eight, were being grossly neglected, and that their health was suffering in consequence. On his first visit to the home the Inspector found the elder boy fairly well nourished, but his clothing was in rags, and he was dirty and verminous. He was unwell and not attending school. The younger boy was poorly nourished, his flesh
2da
Monthly PRICE Anually, Post free, 2s. 6d;
was dirty and vermin-bitten. His clothing was also in rags and foul-smelling, and both lads were described as being a picture of misery and neglect. The mother of the children had died some eighteen months previously, and the home was supposed to be being looked after by an older daughter of the man's, aged nineteen. The father was in regular employment and in receipt of wages of about £3 a week. The daughter was also employed at a factory and earned £1 weekly. The Inspector found the house in a most disgusting state. There were four rooms, two being used as bedrooms, in each of which was a full-sized bed. The bedding was in a horrible state, and the coverings consisted of old garments infested with vermin. The whole house was in a shocking state of dirt. The rent was only 7s. 7d. per week, but there was little food. The father admitted that things had been going wrong since the death of his wife. He was anxious that his daughter should stay at home and look after things and not go to work, which there was no need for her to do. The girl, when inter- viewed, said that she would do her best to improve matters and get the home cleaned up, but she refused to give up her work, and stated she was always at home each mid-day to give the children their food. This was found out afterwards to be untrue. The Officer severely warned both father and daughter, and pointed out to the latter that she would be held responsible by the law, as well as her father, for the state of the home and her brothers.
A few days later the Inspector paid a further visit. He found that a new bed had been purchased but no sheets or blankets, and the house was still in the same horrible condition. There was nothing in the house by way of food, save a small piece of bread. Both father and daughter were again warned, which was repeated by the Officer a few days later when he met them in the street. Acting on the instructions of his Hon. Secretary, the Inspector also served on both of them the Society's written warnings that, unless they responded to those warnings, the Society would be compelled to protect the children by means of a prosecution.
On his next visit the Officer found the younger boy locked in the house by himself. After some persuasion he succeeded in getting him to open the door. He was poorly nourished and, although he had on a new shirt and vest, they were already