Fire away, please feel free to ask whatever you like.
Barnardo's document reads:
"This 'unknown child' came to us on the application of Miss Bolton, Sec. of the NSPCC, Harper Street, Bloomsbury: our knowledge of the following facts being gathered from the papers forwarded to us by the Society: -
Mary Ann (who is but two years old) was in the custody of a professional tramp and beggar named James Hall -- who is stated to be in no way related to the child, but used it for begging purposes.
William Gresley, manager, and Martha Hayward, female deputy, of a model Lodging at Loughboro', stated (when the case came into Court) that Hall, in company with a woman, was in the habit of stopping at their house during the last six months. On each occasion the man 'more or less' ill-treated the child whom - the woman informed them - 'they had picked up".
Hall tramped the country between Derby, Leicester and Northampton. A warrant was issued for his apprehension but he managed to abscond, and for a considerable time eluded the police. On 12th January last the case against him was heard at Loughboro' Petty Sessions and he was sentenced to ten week's hard labour. The NSPCC were granted the legal custody of the child, no trace of whose parent or parents could be discovered."
This document is dated as: Admitted -- 1st March, 1898 (Age - 2 1/2 years)
Also, I don't know what the implication of this is, but the document also states: "Name given as protegee to H. Myers, Esq. The Long House, Leatherhead, Surrey" - then a note added on "7.6.05 Mr. Myers wrote acknowledging child's photo".
There are examples of his cruelty in the document - these abuses are noted as being 'in November'.
That's basically all I have ... other than physical description:
Colour of Hair - Light (as an adult, she had very dark brown hair, curly)
Colour of Eyes - brown
Height - 2 ft. 7 1/2 in.
Complexion - Fair
Vacc Marks - 2 l.a.
Weight - 21 lbs.
Condition of Body - Very thin.
Remarks by Medical Officer - Very small child.
That's it.
Again, many thanks!
