On This Day
On This Day, 18 December 1917
On 18, Dec 2017 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld
Evening Despatch
Tuesday 18 December 1917
ALL DUE TO DRINK
MOTHER SENT TO PRISON FOR NEGLECT OF CHILDREN
“No matter what I bought it went to the pawnshop,” said Arthur Sheldon, tube drawer, 3 , back 18, Latimer-street, when summoned at Birmingham today for neglecting his three children, aged 2, 7, and 8 years.
His wife, Alice Sheldon, admitted that it was all due to the drink. She was responsible for it. Mr Tyndall, for the N.S.P.C.C., explained that the male defendant served in the Coldstream Guards at Mons and in the Somme, and had been discharged with a good character. His average weekly wages were £2 18s. 2d.
Dr. Kerr said the baby’s head was a mass of sores. The mother was in a worse condition than the children. The sores would cause the children excruciating suffering.
Mrs. Sheldon was sent to gaol for three months, and her husband was placed on probation.
