Mrs. Penruddocke, the wife of a wealthy Wiltshire squire of
long pedigree, was sentenced on Friday week for cruelty to her sixth child. She had, it was alleged, habitually beaten her, re- fused her proper food, and in various ways been guilty of cruelly tormenting her. The defence was that the little girl irritated her mother by a weakness very common in childhood; but no explanation was even offered of the bruises beyond a sugges- tion that the governess " might " have caused them. The Jury acquitted the accused of intending to cause ill-health, but found her guilty on two other counts, and asked for severe censure on Mr. Penruddocke. Mr. Justice Bigham, in a speech which was almost apologetic towards Mrs. Penruddocke, sentenced her to a fine of £50, and did not censure Mr. Penruddocke. The lenity of the sentence has excited general indignation, even leading to ques- tions in Parliament, and Mr. and Mrs. Penruddocke have been compelled by popular feeling to retreat for a time from an estate which has been held by the husband's family for more than three hundred years. Mr. Justic6 Bigham saw the witnesses and we did not, and we intensely dislike and distrust the American system of trial by newspaper ; but we are compelled to say that the fine inflicted should, in our opinion, have been the maximum permitted.
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