Ipswich Journal 1st June 1895
A Drunken Father Sent To Prison
A hawker, named James Howard, residing in Rope Walk, was charged by Inspector Luff, N.S.P.C.C., with wilfully neglecting his seven children. – Mr A.F Vulliamy prosecuted on behalf of the N.S.P.C.C., and explained that the defendant cohabited with a woman, and had seven illegitimate children. - Lucy French, with whom the defendant lived, stated that the children ranged from 15 years to one year and nine months. The eldest girl earned 6s per week, and worked overtime, of which she gave witness 4s per week, and 5s when her father was in drink. The next, a boy, paid her 4s a week. Witness could not work her sewing machine, because the defendant smashed it with a stick, saying that he did it so that she should not earn any money by it. He had been constantly in drink during the last nine weeks, and she had only received 4s in money from him. Some weeks ago her daughter Ellen, aged seven, was ill with measles, when the defendant came home and abused witness so much that he frightened the child, who ran out of doors and caught a chill, which made her so ill that she was admitted to The Hospital. Defendant could earn good wages when he liked. Witness had to pawn linen to get food, as the children could not get sufficient. – Ellen Davis, a neighbour, gave evidence as to the defendant’s drunken habits. She had given his children food, because they wanted it. They had no shoes. – Agnes French, aged 12, one of the defendant’s children, stated that she not had enough to eat lately. On one occasion her father came home, took her dinner from her, and ate it himself. – Emma French, the eldest daughter, stated that the defendant would come home drunk and lie on her bed, and she consequently had to sit up. – Sergt. Nunn, who had known defendant for 20 years, spoke to defendant’s character, as did also Police Constable Garnham. – Inspector Luff said the children were pale and weak, and defendant was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, with such hard labour as the medical officer of the prison thought fit.
