{"id":9921,"date":"2021-08-04T21:14:07","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T01:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=9921"},"modified":"2021-09-09T07:38:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T11:38:51","slug":"episode-400-the-short-and-horrific-life-of-george-everitt-green-home-child-part-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=9921","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 400 THE SHORT AND HORRIFIC LIFE OF GEORGE EVERITT GREEN, HOME CHILD , PART FOUR"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
EPISODE 400    THE SHORT AND HORRIFIC LIFE OF GEORGE EVERITT GREEN, HOME CHILD ,  PART FOUR<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
August 2021<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Each episode will include a picture of George Green<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
OLD OWEN SOUND COURT HOUSE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
IMAGNE sitting in this court room while Dr. Dow described injuries to George Green<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
DOCTOR DOW DESCRIBES BODY OF GEORGE GREEN<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Dr. Dow was asked to state the results of  his examination of the body of George Green. <\/div>\n
-He was \u201cvery much emaciated\u2026extremely so,\u201d  <\/div>\n
-His skin as a palish while, bloodless, dirty like there had been<\/div>\n
a coat of varnish on it.  <\/div>\n
-\u201cthe skin of his nose looked like it had been taken off. \u201c <\/div>\n
-The outer edge of his left ear<\/div>\n
had a full length scab.  <\/div>\n
-There was a large scab on the left cheek covered by a scab, <\/div>\n
-a large bruise on the<\/div>\n
lower surface of the chin, <\/div>\n
-an old wound below the right elbow, <\/div>\n
-the ends of the fingers were gangrenous <\/div>\n
– the bones of some finger were completely bared, <\/div>\n
-the left knee had several abrasions, <\/div>\n
-there was an ulcer<\/div>\n
on the ankle about the size of a palm of a hand, <\/div>\n
-one foot was also gangrenous, <\/div>\n
-the left leg looked<\/div>\n
like it had been scraped with the end of a rough sawed board. <\/div>\n
-abscesses on sole of the other foot with ulcer<\/div>\n
on front, <\/div>\n
-bed sore the size of the Doctor\u2019s and o the right hip, <\/div>\n
-spots on body which may have been<\/div>\n
flea bites.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
This list is hard believe.  It would be a good idea to read it twice.<\/div>\n
 Had it not come from a trained medical doctor I would<\/div>\n
have assumed the list was fake.   As events turned out the last entry led to<\/div>\n
deeper insight into the life of George Green and also his tormentor.<\/div>\n
Flea bites!   Not so.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
It was suggested to the jury by defence witnesses  that George Green was the child syphilitic mother\u2026and <\/div>\n
that George was syphilitic when h arrived in Canada.  His death therefore should<\/div>\n
be expected.  Negative prejudices of city life by rural people was common.  Dr. Dow gave his professional opinion on this matter and went<\/div>\n
on to suggest how George died.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
QUESTION TO DR. DOW:  How did George Green die?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 I examined for syphilis and for scrofula (Tuberculosis)\u2026did not find disease.<\/div>\n
Did you ever in your life, either as a physician or otherwise. see a bedroom in as filthy stat?<\/div>\n
I never did\u2026it was about as fifty as anything I  have ever seen.<\/div>\n
What was the cause of the wounds, marks and abrasions you saw on the body?<\/div>\n
Direct violence<\/div>\n
Do you think the wounds could have been accidental?<\/div>\n
I don\u2019t se how they could.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
What  caused the death of George Green?<\/div>\n
 Causes of death were many – the sleeping apartment, improper food, general way of living,<\/div>\n
being abused from day to day and the wounds themselves particularly the condition<\/div>\n
of the fingers and toes.  (gangrene)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Another doctor was then called to testify.  Dr. W.H. Scott was present when Dr. Dow performed<\/div>\n
the most mortem on George Green.  He was cross-examined by defence lawyer Tucker in an<\/div>\n
effort to establish that the boy was syphilitic hence the red spots on his body.  And the boy<\/div>\n
was clumsy hence the abrasions on his body from frequent falls.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
QUESTION:  Didn\u2019t it strike you as peculiar that the fleas would take bites in regular place equals<\/div>\n
distance from each other?<\/div>\n
ANSWER: I didn\u2019t say they were directly regular.<\/div>\n
Pretty nearly said the bites were in marching order feasting off the boy as they went along.<\/div>\n
Perhaps they were not external bites at all.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Then Mr. Tucker called another doctor , Dr.Lang who testified he bites were not flea bites<\/div>\n
because  the bites extended deep below the skin to the bone,  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Here are some of the comments made by neighbours and farm workers<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
LAURIE FERGUSON to MR. MACKAY<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere do you live?<\/div>\n
North Keppel, about a mile and three quarters from Miss Findlay\u2019s.<\/div>\n
Did you know George Teen?<\/div>\n
by eye sight<\/div>\n
Did you see anything as to how she used him?<\/div>\n
No<\/div>\n
Did you hear her say anything as to how she used him?\u2019<\/div>\n
Yes, in the harvest time she said she made him sleep wit the pigs because he misbehaved in his bed.<\/div>\n
She put him out two nights with the pigs and when he would not promise not to do it anymore she him out two more.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
DOCTOR BARNARDO <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
From England DR Barnardo responded with heated indignation to the suggestions that George Green was both<\/div>\n
imbecilic and syphilitic.  He cited the results of the British medical examination given before<\/div>\n
George boarded the Parisian for Canada.  He said the children sent to Canada were<\/div>\n
the cream of his rescue mission.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
DAVID GUNSON<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Where do you live?<\/div>\n
Keppel<\/div>\n
What is your business?<\/div>\n
Blacksmith<\/div>\n
What kind of lad was George Green?<\/div>\n
He was a quiet boy, rather a mannerly little fellow, as far as talking is concerned.<\/div>\n
Were you present at the Findlay farm on the 11h of October\u201d<\/div>\n
(Yes) It was a cold day and she said she sent Mary Brown up to make supper and sent the boy<\/div>\n
to warm himself and go and get the cows.  Mary Brown made a pot of mush (made with bran and flour)<\/div>\n
and fried a pan of potatoes and then she went out to he barn to help Miss Findlay clean up the barn floor.<\/div>\n
When Miss Findlay came in the  she asked ,  \u201cWho the hell is in here?\u201d <\/div>\n
The boy came out and she she got a stick or kicked him and the boy fell over and she jammed  the pail together.<\/div>\n
Smashed the pail?<\/div>\n
Yes<\/div>\n
Did  she say she kicked him?<\/div>\n
Yes and second time kicked at him and he upset the swill pail.<\/div>\n
Did she give an reason for doing this?<\/div>\n
Yes.  she said when she went into the the boy \u201chad eaten all the potatoes and damn near all the mush.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
JAMES HUSBAND<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Where do you live, Mr. Husband?<\/div>\n
Kemble, sir<\/div>\n
How far do you from Miss Findlay?<\/div>\n
I suppose three miles.<\/div>\n
What was George Green doing the last time you saw him on Nov. 8?<\/div>\n
Unloading wood out of wagon.  I was coming and Saw her beat the boy with a stick the size of a chair leg,<\/div>\n
about three feet long.<\/div>\n
Hard blows or not?<\/div>\n
I should say pretty hard blow.<\/div>\n
If that stick turned out to be an axe handle, would that be reasonable chastisement even if he deserved it?<\/div>\n
No<\/div>\n
Was there anything the matter with the boy when you saw him?<\/div>\n
I saw blood on his nose.<\/div>\n
What part of his nose?<\/div>\n
Across the bridge.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(Apparently George Green did not throw the firewood far enough from the wagon and Helen<\/div>\n
Findlay had to pick them up and throw the wood to the fence.)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
NORMAN MCLEOD<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Where do you live?<\/div>\n
North Keppel – farm<\/div>\n
Did you ever see George Green go about his work there?<\/div>\n
I have seen him getting the cows, bring them down from the high rock field and I have seen him milk<\/div>\n
five cows and carry the milk up the rock.<\/div>\n
Is that an easy task?<\/div>\n
It is not.  There is just a path blasted out of the rock for the cattle to get up and down and the precipices<\/div>\n
are almost perpendicular, it was just blasted so cattle can get up and down and it is very steep and it its<\/div>\n
quite a distance to carry milk.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(MR. Tucker cross examined Norman McLeod who said \u201cI don\u2019t think the boy was very sensible or smart <\/div>\n
of intellect)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
BABARA HORNE<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Where do you live, Mrs.Horne?<\/div>\n
AT North Keppel, next farm to Miss Findlay<\/div>\n
What kind of boy was George Green when you first saw him?<\/div>\n
A healthy looking boy.  He looked clean and well dressed.<\/div>\n
Any sign of disease?<\/div>\n
I didn\u2019t notice any.<\/div>\n
Did you see him eating there?<\/div>\n
I saw him once.<\/div>\n
When?<\/div>\n
At his breakfast.<\/div>\n
About the end of August.<\/div>\n
Eating with others or alone.<\/div>\n
Alone<\/div>\n
What time?<\/div>\n
Nine O\u2019clock.<\/div>\n
What was he eating?Porridge.  It looked to me like bran porridge with just enough flour to hold it together.<\/div>\n
Was there anything else to eat?<\/div>\n
Just brown bread on the table.<\/div>\n
Did you see anything of Miss Findlay\u2019s treatment of the boy?<\/div>\n
No<\/div>\n
Did you hear her say anything\u2026with reference to her treatment of him?<\/div>\n
Yes, I have often heard her say things.  She said if he didn\u2019t work she would stick the pitch fork in him. I heard<\/div>\n
her scolding I\u2019m\u2026yelling at him.  I heard her halfway across the field.<\/div>\n
Did you see the boy much after he went to Miss Findlay\u2019s?<\/div>\n
Yes, he came over to our place sometime in October.  He just had on an old pair of pants and I think the<\/div>\n
jersey that the boys have when the boys come from the Barnardo Home and he was bare-footed and bare-<\/div>\n
headed and it was raining\u2026.a cold, cold day<\/div>\n
Was there any signs of sickness or skin disease then.<\/div>\n
None then, no.<\/div>\n
I want to know if you can tell me anything Miss Findlay said as to how she used him, or as to what she had done<\/div>\n
and what he said when she did then?<\/div>\n
she told me about striking him sometimes in one way and he said \u201cOh, please stop.\u201d and she told that was great fun.<\/div>\n
Did you consider the food was fit to at.<\/div>\n
I don\u2019t think it was fit for a working boy to eat.<\/div>\n
Would you like to eat it?<\/div>\n
No.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
CROSS EXAMINED BY MR. TUCKER<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I suppose you will stick to it that this was bran porridge?<\/div>\n
Certainly<\/div>\n
You have enlarged on it a this time.  At the prior investigation you said it looked like bran porridge and now <\/div>\n
today you say it was bran porridge with enough flour to keep it together.<\/div>\n
You didn\u2019t give me a chance.<\/div>\n
Of course you thought it was a very unChristian thing to treat a boy that way, threatening to stick the pitch fork<\/div>\n
in him?<\/div>\n
Why, of course I thought that.<\/div>\n
And at the same time you were going backwards and forwards in a friendly manner?<\/div>\n
Not very often.<\/div>\n
And you never thought it proper for some kind of objection to be raised? Y ou never spoke to her about it,<\/div>\n
never complained to her?<\/div>\n
I told her when she first got him she should send him back, he was not a suitable boy for her.<\/div>\n
Why not?<\/div>\n
I didn\u2019t think he could do the work, she was always complaining about him every time she spoke to me.<\/div>\n
Why could he not do her work?<\/div>\n
Well, I thought he could but she said not.  I saw him loading hay and saw him hitching the horses to he wagon.<\/div>\n
You never said to her about the manner in which she was treating him, that is so is it not?<\/div>\n
Well,  don\u2019t think Miss Findlay would\u2019ve taken it from me.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The lawyers MacKey and Tucker cross examined witnesses aggressively even using contradictory statements<\/div>\n
made by husbands and wives as with the Hornes.  At stake was the life of Helen Rose Findlay.  Canada, in 1895<\/div>\n
still practised capital punishment.  If convicted then the hangman could be called.  Mr. Tucker tried to convince the<\/div>\n
jury that George Green died of natural causes.   Mr. Mackay wanted a conviction for murder.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MR. W. H. HORNE  (examined by Mr. Mackay)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Where do you live?<\/div>\n
Near Big Bay<\/div>\n
How far from Miss Findlay?<\/div>\n
The next farm.<\/div>\n
Across the road or alongside?<\/div>\n
Alongside.<\/div>\n
How far apart are the houses?<\/div>\n
About 3\/8 to 1\/2 mile<\/div>\n
What kind of lad was he?<\/div>\n
Fairly healthy, average size for a 15 year old boy. Taller than the general run of Home Boys at that age.  Not so<\/div>\n
stoutly as Keppel boys.<\/div>\n
Did you see him at any kind of work that would test his strength?<\/div>\n
Yes, a few days after he arrived Miss Findlay brought over some grain to my fanning mill and he turned the mill<\/div>\n
while grain was being cleaned.<\/div>\n
What kind of fanning mill is it?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Here are a few pictures of the same kind Chatham fanning mill as described,  Kids Molly and Jackson<\/div>\n
seem to be enjoying themselves.  George Green was not as enthusiastic<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
A Chapman (Chatham?) with bagger attached.<\/div>\n
He appeared from that to have average strength.<\/div>\n
I should say average strength.<\/div>\n
Did you see him frequently after that during the summer?<\/div>\n
Yes.<\/div>\n
He was dressed as a rule?<\/div>\n
Sometimes not very well dressed but I didn\u2019t think anything of that in the summer when it was warm\u2026Later, when<\/div>\n
it was colder I thought the boy hadn\u2019t enough warm clothes on.  He looked blue and cold in the fall.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Digging potatoes with single horse and potato plow <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Do you remember an occasion on which you were digging potatoes?<\/div>\n
Yes, sometime late in October.<\/div>\n
Did you see Miss Findlay that day?<\/div>\n
I heard the boy cry and thought I heard a blow and I looked to see what was the matter.  They were working in<\/div>\n
the barley field.  Miss Findlay had a fork in her hand and the boy was trying to get away from her and she <\/div>\n
was scolding him and following with the fork in her hand.<\/div>\n
What were they doing?<\/div>\n
Hauling in barley, but their crop was very late.<\/div>\n
Was she close enough to strike him?<\/div>\n
I think she was about the length of a fork handle away when I saw her. I have heard her scolding him often around<\/div>\n
the house and the barn,  sometimes in the field.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
You were over at the house the day after the boy had died?<\/div>\n
The night before, after she came home from town.<\/div>\n
What condition was the bed in?<\/div>\n
It was dirty.  I think some clothes had been used in the stable because there was marks on them and they looked<\/div>\n
as if  they  had been\u2026and I suppose some of the clothes was soiled by the boy himself lying in the bed.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
NOTE:   Witness after witness testified that Rose Findlay abused George Green.  She said she went to town<\/div>\n
to get medical help the night he died which may or may not have been true.  Miss Findlay was having trouble<\/div>\n
managing the farm\u2026.late harvest of barley and potatoes, need to sell most of her milk to local cheese factory<\/div>\n
raised doubts about care of animals.   Lack of food in the house and regular meals of bran mush was another<\/div>\n
indication.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MR. HORNE (Cross examined by Mr. Tucker for defence)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
You don\u2019t pretend to say that the boy was fat and strong?<\/div>\n
No, sir, I would not say he was a rugged boy<\/div>\n
You don\u2019t pretend to say Miss Findlay struck him that day in the harvest field?<\/div>\n
I didn\u2019t see her.<\/div>\n
In what condition were his hands and face?<\/div>\n
They were very dirty very often.<\/div>\n
There was nothing very extraordinary about his turning that fanning mill a few minutes?  It was no test of strength?<\/div>\n
It would have been if he had continued at it.  It is hard work for me to run it right alone.<\/div>\n
Turning half a bag of grain through it, that would not amount to anything?<\/div>\n
There are six or seven bags, but they were not very full.  About a bushel and a half in each bag.<\/div>\n
Do you know if Miss Findlay assisted him?<\/div>\n
Perhaps she did.   I didn\u2019t stay there.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Did you ever notice his habit of walking?<\/div>\n
Yes,  I didn\u2019t think he was a very good walker, he took a long stride but I thought he was not a smart walker\u2026not<\/div>\n
very smart on his feet..<\/div>\n
He was humpbacked?<\/div>\n
No, I should say round shouldered and carried his head forward.<\/div>\n
His mouth was also drawn to one side?<\/div>\n
A little.<\/div>\n
And his lower jaw projected more than the upper?  You are the first witness to admit that his mouth was drawn<\/div>\n
to one side.   He was cross eyed also. right?<\/div>\n
His face being drawn around I would not be sure whether he was, but had the appearance of being cross eyed.<\/div>\n
Did you know he was left handed?<\/div>\n
No sir.<\/div>\n
You didn\u2019t know that?<\/div>\n
Left handed men used to be the best in olden times.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MR. MAcKAY<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
You say he seemed to be clumsy on his feet.  Did you know he was absolutely blind in one eye?<\/div>\n
No sir.<\/div>\n
Would that account for his awkwardness?<\/div>\n
It just might.<\/div>\n
Suppose he was blind in one  eye and short sighted in the other?<\/div>\n
I think it would.  And I think that is why he walked with his head down.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
END OF EPISODE\u2026.COULD THE TREATMENT GET ANY WORSE?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Picture of Big Bay not far from the Findlay Farm.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EPISODE 400    THE SHORT AND HORRIFIC LIFE OF GEORGE EVERITT GREEN, HOME CHILD ,  PART FOUR alan skeoch August 2021 Each episode will include a picture of George Green OLD OWEN SOUND COURT HOUSE IMAGNE sitting in this court room while Dr. Dow described injuries to George Green DOCTOR DOW DESCRIBES BODY OF GEORGE […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9921\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}