Notes In 1901, Charles Hunt, 12, arrived in Portland, Maine, USA, along with a group of 260 Dr. Barnardo children from London to Toronto (193), Peterborough, Ontario (6) and to Russell, Manitoba (60).
Charles was immediately placed with the Harold Albert Colingridge family in Rossburn, Manitoba, Canada. His story was recounted in the Winnipeg Free Press on April 5, 1902.
Closing Criminal Case at Brandon Asylum -- Evidence of Threshers.
Brandon, April 4.--The last case of the present assizes, King vs. Collingridge opened at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Collingridge is charged with criminal neglect of a Barnardo boy--Chas. A. Hunt. Mr. R. M. Matheson, for the crown, addressed the jury telling about Hunt and stating themain evidence which he would lay before them.
Collingridge, a bachelor farmer, living seven miles northwest of Solsgirth, contracted to take a Barnardo boy under 14, for three years, to pay him $100 and supply the necessary food, lodging and cloth. On April 4, 901, Charlie Hunt, aged 12 years, reached Keileo station and Collingridge's next morning. During April, May and June the boy was happy, but later whispers that Charlie was not used right by Collingridge were heard. An anonymous letter was received at the Barnardo home, Winnipeg, [illegible]. Inspector Heap reached Charlie's place and finds Miss Collingridge, a sister there. Mr. Heap asks for Charlie and is told he is not up yet. He finds him in a stable manger, hay above and below him; and only a blanket over him. November 26 a threshing gang at Collingridge's see several things as to the treatment Charlie Hunt received.
Mr. J. F. Kilgour, Brandon, was the counsel for the defence.
David White was the first witness. He was superintendent of the Barnardo home, Winnipeg. He told of the Barnardo home work. Charlie Hunt came out in the spring of 1901 and he saw him December 6, 1901, in poor health. Sores were on his body, he had frozen toes, a sore heel and looked as if he was badly nourished. Witness bathed him, clothed him in fresh garments and carried the boy to the general hospital, Winnipeg.
Mr. Kilgour cross-examined witness at some length. Witness said the boy seemed healthy and with good habits when he came out from England. Mr. Kilgour read a report from an English paper concerning Charlies Surroundings in the home, London. The family lived for months in one room; two children were not out for about a year having insufficient clothing. The father was addicted to drink and did not work. Finally the mother was found dead from starvation, the father and children sleeping beside her. Witness had to finally admit that under such conditions Charlie would likely have bad tendencies and also that the boy's health was likely to be permanently injured.
Thresher's Evidence.
Alex. McArthur, Archibald McArthur, Norman Locke and H. E. Doherty, witnesses who were present at Collingridge's Nov. 26, 1901, for the most part neighbors who were assisting in the threshing, told the following story: In the spring Charlie seemed to be happy, bright and well-clad. Nov. 26 he was poorly clad for cold weather; there were holes in his stockings, which did not reach to the knee, and on his feet rubbers only, "a new pair," too-short pants of blue overhauling. They were not sure of the underclothing; he had on a ragged coat and no cap. His general appearance was bad; his long hair was unkempt, and he wore a down-cast stupid expression. On Nov. 26 the boy was on a straw stack with Collingridge, who, they thought, hurried him too much, calling him "A son of a ----." The next morning at 6 a.m. he was seen between the cows in the stable crying. One morning at 8 o'clock he was trying to split wood, which he couldn't do. Doherty split some for him. At noon he was ordered down to a slough to fill a barrel with water by dipping it out of a hole in the ice. On the morning of Nov. 27 they found Charlie at 6:30 sitting on snowy ground crying. He refused to go in the house, and finally the threshers carried him in. When asked why he did not run to keep warm, he replied he couldn't because he was lame through his feet being frozen. The men advised Miss Collingridge to poultice the feet. They saw Charlie washing his feet, and found the toes frozen. Good care was taken of him after that. He was well fed that day, and there was lots for him to eat.
To Mr. Kilgour, Alex. McArthur admitted he was a bachelor, and would not care to take care of such a boy, and that with the best treatment he would be unable to keep him in good shape; also that he didn't think Collingridge would wantonly or intentionally be cruel to the boy. Further that in the hurry of threshing operations it was natural that the boy was not attended to much. The temperature on Nov. 27, he judged, to be 15 below zero; on the 26th it was milder.
In 1906, Charles Hunt, 17, was shown as a servant to Robert Solton, in Souris, Manitoba, Canada. His immigration year was shown as 1898.
In 1911, Charlies Hunt, 24, butcher, was shown as head of household residing in the Municipality of Rosedale, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. His date of birth was shown as September, 1887, and his immigration year as 1906.
[EDITORS NOTE: Harold Albert Collingridge went on to farm in Rossburn, Manitoba until his death in 1950. He married and his sister, Thalya, continued to reside with him until her death.]