New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17244, 21 August 1919, Page 9 PUNISHED BY DIPPING. ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER. DEATH OF BOY CALDER. FATHER STANDS HIS TRIAL. The death of the boy Trevor Calder aged seven, on June 16 last, after his admittance to the Auckland Hospital suffering from the effects of exposure due to hiding in a shed allegedly to escape punishment by his father, came under review; at the .Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Chapman yesterday. The father Angus Calder (Mr A. Moody), was charged with manslaughter. There were additional charges that within two different periods the accusedwilfully ill-treated his son and caused him to be exposed to unnecessary suffering or injury to his health. The Crown Prosecutor, the Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C.. in outlining the case, said that the boy Trevor was the youngest of four children the mother having died at his birth. It would be shown that the child was not treated as well as the other children, the accused having said on one occasion that he "did not take to Trevor." In 1916 when the by was only four years of age Calder discovered that he had a bad habit and used to dip him into cold water in an effort to cure him of it. The boy was later sent to his grandfather at Howick and according to the grandfather showed no signs of any bad habit. The boy returned to his fathers home at Mangere about October of last year, and the dipping was again resorted to. The boy, said Mr. Tole, had a morbid fear of cold water and used to beg to be thrashed; rather than be dipped. On several occasions he ran away, and in June last could not be found for some days. He was eventually found hiding in a shed on accused's property, with sores on his body and feet. He contracted tetanus and died some days later. Mr. Tole stated that the dipping of the child undoubtedly caused him unnecessary suffering, and he asserted that the accused's method of correction made him responsible in law for his son's death. Evidence similar to that given in the lower Court was given. Rita Webb, housekeeper for Calder at Onehunga in 1916 said that Trevor was dipped in cold water at least eipht times to her knowledge. She described the child as clean, affectionate, and obedient. Cross-examined, witness said she was not on bad terms with accused when she left his employ. She stated that the children were well fed and clothed. Frederick W. Beckett, a neighbourof Calder's at Onehunga gave evidence as to hearing sounds of splashing of water and on one occasion hearing accused saying in an angry tone: "Now, will you do it again?" The child Trevor was as welldressed as the other children, but seemed to fear his father. Benjamin Beeby, grandfather of the child, said that in 1918 after the child's return to Mangere, he went to visit the accused there. Accused told him that the child had run away a little while before. Addressing the child, accused said: " Cold water is the trick for you." The child was holding witness's hand at the time, and he could feel him tremble. He asked Calder "Don't you think that is too severe a punishment for the child?" Calder made no answer. Witness said that when the child was at Howick with, him he showed no signs of any bad habits. Mr. J. E. Wilson. S.M., put in the depositions taken at the inquest, and said that accused seemed very grieved at the death of his son. Evidence was also given by Frederick Raymond Calder aged 11, and Dinah Johnson, aunt of the child. Henry C. Jaffrey headmaster of the Mangere school, said the deceased child always seemed to be responsible for his own toilet, and was not as well dressed as his brothers. When he first went to school he seemed cowed, and would shrink from witness if he met him on the road. "The boy was in abject terror" continued witness, "and I wrote to the father stating that I thought he had had a bad time." The father replied that the boy looked for sympathy. Witness said the child was obedient "and made good progress. Evidence for the defence will be heard to-day.
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