The trial of Joseph Hodges for carnally abusing one Maranata Freestone, a girl under ten years of age, and sentenced to twenty years penal servitude / by Jonathan Wybrants.

  • Wybrants, Jonathan, 1818-1883.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of Joseph Hodges for carnally abusing one Maranata Freestone, a girl under ten years of age, and sentenced to twenty years penal servitude / by Jonathan Wybrants. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    4/32 (page 4)
    him what the neighbours thought; he said “ If I was you I should keep that quiet.” In the evening of the same day I went to Mr. Hudson, the parish doctor ; I showed him my niece’s linen ; he asked if the child had been with any person, I replied “ I did not think any such thing, as I kept her very strict; he then said it must be the heat of her inside ; ” he gave me some medicine for her to take, and I took her home. Mr. Hudson did not examine the child; when I got home I questioned my niece as follows;—Now my dear, you tell me what is the matter with you, and if any one has touched you ? she said “ No. ” I said “They must for what you have got about you would prove it:” she cried; I said if you tell me the truth, if any person has touched you, I will get you something that will do you good, but if you dont tell me you will surely die. She cried, and then said, “ Is Joe coming back again ? ” I said “ No.” She said if I would’nt teU him she would tell ' me ; she then said, one day while I was out, the prisoner put his hand under her clothes, and afterwards sat in her uncle’s chair and had connexion with her. In consequence of this I took her to Mr. Hudson yesterday morning ; he examined her. The prisoner had finished his work on Friday, he having completed the two pieces of velvet which is sufficient to learn the trade. My niece was eight years about last Easter.—The mark X. Caroline Freestone. Cross-examined by the prisoner.—Did I not recommend you to take the child to the Doctor ? Answer, I never heard you. Thomas St. John Hudson—I am a surgeon, practising at Shepton Mallet. On Saturday morning last, the last witness, Caroline Freestone, brought the child Maranata Freestone to me and shewed me her linen, which was very much stained. I asked her if she had been ill before ; She said “ No ; ” I then asked the child if any one had been playing or taking liberties with her; i she said there had not. She complained of her private parts being sore. I did not then examine the child, and thought the discharge arose from the heat i of her inside. I gave the aunt some medicine. Yesterday morning the aunt came with the child again, I examined her person and found her private parts j inflamed. She had also a discharge of Gonorrhea. I have no doubt in my f opinion that the child Maranata Freestone, has been abused by a man, which has caused the disease. I have since examined the prisoner’s shirt, and find it stained with a discharge. On the second visit of the child to me, she stated that the prisoner had had connexion with her.—T. St. J. HUDSON. , I Taken and sworn before us, E. LECKONBY PHIPPS. 1 • EDWD. H. DICKINSON. Copy of statement made by prisoner :—I am really not guilty of the charge aUeged against me. Verdict—Guilty, Twenty years penal servitude. \ V V A