The Whitehaven News November, 27th 1913 Whitehaven Police Court

Whitehaven Police Court

The Whitehaven News - November, 27th 1913

WHITEHAVEN POLICE COURT Monday, November 24 ANOTHER CRUELTY CASE Francis Brew (50) labourer, was charged with having wilfully neglected two children, Francis Brew 15), and James Brew (9), in a suffering at Whitehaven, on the 8th of August and other dates between 11th August and 8th November. The Clerk: Do you wish to be tried here or by jury at Carlisle? Defendant (crying): I am willing to do owt at all. Inspector James Michael Ryan, N.S.P.C.C. said the defendant lived at 4, Little Scotland, Whitehaven, and on the 11th August P.C. Maher and witness visited the house for the first time.  Defendant's wife had been away from him for eleven months.  When witness called defendant was sitting in the house with two of his children, Francis aged 15 year, James Brew aged 9 years.  Witness told him the nature of the visit, and in his presence examined the children.  They where both badly clad and practically in rags. Francis had no footwear and James was very badly shod, hardly any soles on his boots.  The flesh was very dirty and the clothing and body was verminous. The living room contained a broken table and a fender, with nothing to sit on. The filth of the room could not be described.  There were only two to the house and 2s 6d was the rent.  In the bedroom was a full sized bed-stead,  straw mattress, and a flock bed.  The covering of the latter had been torn and the flock were all over the room.  There were also two torn quilts in a filthy state.  The room was in a filthy condition and there were vermin and fleas on the bedding. Defendant, who was with the witness, said "I am doing my best. They get plenty to eat. I don't want my boys to go to work.  I can get plenty of money for them" Witness warned him and advised him to go to the workhouse with the children and get cleaned up. On the 15th August he again visited the house, and saw all the children and there was no change, and defendant was warned.  On the 10th October the children where filthy, dirty and verminous, and defendant said he was going to get a housekeeper on a fortnight's time.  On that day there was a settle in the dinning room.  On the 2nd November neither children had any footwear and were in a bad condition.  On the 8th November witness called in Dr Dickson, who examined the children. In the bedroom was a wooden bucket filled with urine and the stench was awful. The window could be opened, but it was not.  There was not the slightest improvement.  Defendant was a labourer at Moresby Coke Ovens, and said that he earned 25s a week. P.C Maher said he was with the Inspector on all his visits, and corroborated his statements. Dr J. H. Dickson said that he visited the house on the 8th November, and found the house had a broken table, a chair near the fire and a settle in the living room.  The room was in a filthy condition.  There were two loaves on a small table and on the large table there was some bread, one tin of salmon and some Nestlé's milk, with some mugs and a basin that had contained tea.  The bedroom contained one large bed and had a flock mattress in a dirty condition; the only cover being two dirty torn quilts.  Frank Brew (15) was rather undersized, but fairly well nourished.  He was wearing a coat, waistcoat, and trousers in a dirty and ragged condition.  He had neither stockings nor shoes, and his shirt was filthy with vermin creeping all over it, and when that was removed the vermin adhered to his body.  His hair was long and his head with nits and vermin.  James Brew (9) was fairly well nourished, and had only a shirt and trousers on. Witness asked him if he went to school.  He said he had no boots or shoes to go in, and that he had no coat or waistcoat.  His skin was dirty, and he was practically in the same condition as Francis.  This would cause them unnecessary suffering and be injurious to their health. Jessie Clowes, porter at the Whitehaven Workhouse, said that he received the two lads on Saturday night last, and they where in a bad a condition as he had handled, and he had not got them all together clean yet.  The boy James had a burned foot which he said was done by a poker falling out of the fire last Thursday.  He could not bear it to be touched when bathed. Defendant in reply to the Chairman said he could not keep the oldest of the two boys in the house, and he lost work with the lad staying out at night. He did his best for them.  He could not look after them while he was at work. The Chairman: Why is there not anyone to look after them while you are away. In reply, the defendant said he could not get anyone since his wife went away to Keswick to with Billy Young. If he got someone the people would try to get a bite at him. Supt. Hogg said the defendant had a very long list against him for convictions for drunkenness. It was quite correct that his wife had left him.  When he was arrested on Saturday night he was drunk.  One of the boys mentioned in the charge was before the court a week ago along with an elder boy, and they seemed to be left to the world.  They where entirely neglected. Mr H. Grose (the probation officer) said he had the two elder boys under probation, and he called at the house on Thursday last, and it was in a very bad state. The Chairman: Francis Brew will have to go to Carlisle gaol for two months hard labourer.

 

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