Saturday April 25th, 1903
ALLEGED CRUELTY BY PARENTS
At Lancaster Police Court on Wednesday, Joseph Varey, general dealer, of Holme, and his wife Sarah, were summoned for neglecting their three children, aged six months to six years, between February 18th and 28th, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. J. E. Oglethorpe prosecuted. It appeared that prisoners had been living for some time in Mary Street, and had a married couple and their four children also sharing the house. The seven children were found to be suffering from measles, and one child of the prisoners was in a dangerous condition with bronchitis. There was practically no furniture, and all the children were laid on the floor, except one, which was on a box. The place was dirty, and the children were verminous. The doctor ordered that the child that was dangerously ill should not be removed, but still the parents drove with it in an open spring cart to Holme at seven o’clock next morning. Messrs. D. S. Johnson, D. C. Rogerson, Inspector Harvey, N.S.P.C.C. and Dr. Barling supported the prosecution’s case. From the Bench’s enquiry it appeared that the heads of the other family had been proceeded against, but the case had been dismissed, as they were but lodgers and the Varey’s the tenants. The Bench cautioned the prisoners, but dismissed the case, considering that there had been no special cruelty beyond risking the child’s life in direct contravention of the doctor’s order.
ALLEGED CRUELTY BY PARENTS
At Lancaster Police Court on Wednesday, Joseph Varey, general dealer, of Holme, and his wife Sarah, were summoned for neglecting their three children, aged six months to six years, between February 18th and 28th, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. J. E. Oglethorpe prosecuted. It appeared that prisoners had been living for some time in Mary Street, and had a married couple and their four children also sharing the house. The seven children were found to be suffering from measles, and one child of the prisoners was in a dangerous condition with bronchitis. There was practically no furniture, and all the children were laid on the floor, except one, which was on a box. The place was dirty, and the children were verminous. The doctor ordered that the child that was dangerously ill should not be removed, but still the parents drove with it in an open spring cart to Holme at seven o’clock next morning. Messrs. D. S. Johnson, D. C. Rogerson, Inspector Harvey, N.S.P.C.C. and Dr. Barling supported the prosecution’s case. From the Bench’s enquiry it appeared that the heads of the other family had been proceeded against, but the case had been dismissed, as they were but lodgers and the Varey’s the tenants. The Bench cautioned the prisoners, but dismissed the case, considering that there had been no special cruelty beyond risking the child’s life in direct contravention of the doctor’s order.
