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Record #3301
Name :
: Charles Thomas BULPITT (1907 - 1923)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1907

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 22 Dec 1923   Notes : Suicide by Hanging
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Hampshire, South Stoneham
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Ontario, Colborne
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 4 Aug 1923
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Megantic

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Liverpool Sheltering Home
NotesA birth registration was found for Charles Thomas Bulpitt: Year of Registration: 1907; Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar; District: South Stoneham; County: Hampshire; Volume: 2c; Page: 65.

Andrew Sidney BULPITT, the father of Charles Thomas BULPITT apparently drowned August 8, 1908 at Havre port. He was a stoker or fireman on the Lydia, a ferry between Southampton and France. He was using the name Sidney at that time. There is no note or documentation of his body having been buried.

In 1923, Charles Thomas Bulpitt, 16, arrived in Quebec, Canada, with a group of 48 boys and girls en route to Belleville, Ontario, Canada.

Charles was placed with J. Benson Cox, a farmer in Goderich, Ontario, Canada, as a farm laborer. According to the statement issued on January 28, 1924, prior to the placement of Charles Bulpitt, an enquiry was made by Marchmont Home in Belleville, Ontario (the legal guardians of Charles) "as to the character of Cox and the suitability of his home as a place of employment." After receiving of the "highest testimonials" Charles was placed with farmer Cox.

On October 27, 1923, representatives of the Marchmont Home "visited the boy and found the home satisfactory."

On November 27, 1923, the Marchmont Home received a letter from Charlie: "No doubt you received a letter from Mr. Cox about two weeks ago telling you about the way I had treated him. I have also read that letter and know it is all true. You will be ashamed to think I did that and I am ashamed myself of it. I have been staying here since that time thinking that you will send for me to take me away from here, but if you will let me, I will stay here a little longer. If Mr. Cox will let me. Perhaps he is only waiting to get a new boy in my place before he lets me go. That day you were here you said that you would give me a photograph. I suppose it was the one that was taken of the band in front of the home, so if you still have one left and as you forgot to give me one, you might kindly give it to me when you write, telling me what you intend to do with me, I am, your sinful client, C Bulpitt"

On November 28, 1923, the Marchmont Home wrote that it would be glad for Mr. Cox to keep Charlie.

On December 22, 1923, after only 4 months on the placement, Charles Thomas Bulpitt died by suicide, hanging himself at 6th Con., Lot 4, Colborne, Ontario, Canada. He was buried in Colborne Cemetery on December 24, 1923.

An inquest was performed. The jury determined that Charlie should not have been placed on a farm, but in an office, which would have better suited his education and desire. The loneliness among strangers, unaccustomed and uncongenial work, and unwarranted punishment all combined to create the depression which caused the ending of his own life.

The jury further determined abuse suffered by Charlie Bulpitt should prove that the then present system of home inspections was inadequate and that all agencies, from institutions should cooperate with the local children's aid societies and provincial authorities whose understanding of the local conditions would allow better and more frequent inspections.

The abuse of Charlie brought public outrage. The Canadian Immigration department, said that "the system of inspecting homes in Canada is more rigid in the case of pauper children than in other cases and that the department could not be blamed for isolated cases, even if it could be proved that Bulpitt had been placed in an unsuitable home." Louisa Birt said the inquest revelations were inexplicable to her, adding that the farmer to whom Bulpitt was sent was "one of the most up-to-date in Canada."

Prosection was recommended against J. Benson Cox to the provincial authorities by the department of immigration. He was charged with assault and beating the boy and sentenced to two months imprisonment in Goderich gaol. His defense counsel admitted there were frequent beatings, but claimed the "right of punishment as the boy was an apprentice." The appalled magistrate ruled that Charles was NOT an apprentice but was hired at $75 a year and that the farmer had no right to lay a hand on him.

The Globe and Mail - Saturday, February 2, 1924 (page 7)

FARMER SENT TO JAIL FOR ASSAULTING BOY WHO HANGED HIMSELF

Sentence of Two Months Passed on Benson Cox in Magistrate's Court.

"FREQUENT" WHIPPINGS

(Special Despatch to The Globe)

Goderich, Feb. 1. --- Benson J. Cox, Colborne township farmer, will spend two months in the Goderich jail, having been given such a sentence by Magistrate Charles A. Reid in the Police Court this morning, when found guilty of having assaulted and beaten Charles Bulpitt on December 22 last. R.C. Hays, junl, counsel for Cox, immediately sentence was passed, arose to ask leave to appeal, which, however, was denied, Crown Attorney Chalres Seager, K.C., pointing out that an appeal could be entered only as a stated case to the Court of Appeal at Toronto.

Cox having asked for a week to arrange his affairs, preparatory to serving his sentence, bail was accepted for that time, surety of $2,000 being offered by himself and brother, Leslie Cox.

Elects for Summary Trial.

The courtroom was only comfortably filled when Cox and his counsel entered the room at 11.20 o'clock, 20 minutes after the appointed hour. One minuite later Dr. A.C. Hunter, who as Coroner conducted the inquest into the death of the Bulpitt boy, was on the witness stand. Cox having elected to be tried summarily before Magistrate Reid, and having pleaded "not guilty" to the chage as read.

Dr. Hunter testified that Cox, of his own volition, had told him he had whipped the Bulpitt boy the morning of his death (December 22, the day in question). He also told him he had often whipped the boy for untruthfulness. In answer to Dr. Hunter's question whether he had whipped the boy every day, Cox had replied: "Not daily; frequently." In reply to Mr. Hays' questions, Dr. Hunter was emphatic in stating that Cox, in his conversation with him on arriving at the scene of the hanging, was the first to mention the subject of whipping. Cox, he said had not told him as to how many times he meant by "frequently."

Thomas Gundry, County Constable and Deputy Sheriff, was then called to the stand. His evidence in regard to the conversation between the Coroner and Cox, at which he had been present, was as follows:

Dr. Hunter -- What could have happened to the boy to make him do this?

Cox -- I don't know, though I know one thing: I thrashed him this morning.

"You what?"

"I thrashed him this morning."

"What for?"

"For lying. I often had to whip him for lying."

Dr. Hunter -- How often did you whip him?

"I whipped him frequently."

"Every day, you mean?"

"No, not every day; frequently."

To Mr. Hays the witeness said that Cox had not admitted whipping the boy for anything else than lying, nor had he indicated what he meant by "frequently."

Charles A. Robertson, Reeve of Colborne, and a neighbor when Cox called in when he discovered the boy hanging in the barn, was the next witness. He give(sic) evidence that he had heard Cox tell the Coroner that he had whipped the boy that morning. "Mr. Cox told me himself he had whipped the boy that morning." remarked Mr. Robertson. "I did not think there was any secret about it."

Crown Attorney Seager -- Of course there wasn't: not until now.

Dr. A.H. Macklin, who made the post-mortem examination, was the last witness called. Dr. Macklin testified that there were no marks on the body that could have been caused by beating.

Mr. Hays -- If the boy had been given a severe whipping that morning, would there not have been marks on his hands?

Dr. Macklin -- I shouldn't think that a broad, soft strap on the palm of the hand would show anything.

"This boy's death has been the means of stirring up considerable publicity throughout this country, and England as well," began Mr. Hays, in his address to the court. "Perhaps because some enthusiastic reporters have waxed eloquent in melodramatic style, commercializing the death of Bulpitt, and ruining the standing of Mr. Cox in the community where he lives."

At this juncture Mr. Seager whispered something to Mr. Hays, and then rising, said: "I don't wish to go into this nauseating affair again."

Magistrate Reid -- Well, Mr. Hays, you might know that the amount of publicity this thing has been given has nothing to do with the case, nor has it any effect in this court.

"Perhaps not," rejoined Mr. Hays, "but when any ordinary case of assault is heard hardly ten people know anything about it, whereas this case has been very widely discussed." This angle of the case was then dropped.

Had No Right to Beat Boy.

Mr. Hays, continuing, then pointed out that, according to section 63 of the Criminal Code, an apprentice could be punished within reason. The question is then, Was Bulpitt an apprentice? If so, Cox had the right to punish him. Quoting Lord Halsbury, Mr. Hays stated the apprenticeship constituted learning a trade or calling. Apprenticeship became contract for service when the training received was only incidental. Was Bulpitt on the Cox farm to earn $76, or was he there to learn farming? Beyond a doubt he was there in that home for the purpose of learning farming, declared Mr. Hays. Who had charge of his morals and up- bringing? The Home had, but it left it to Mr. Cox. That boy was apprenticed to Mr. Cox when it is alleged he received punishment for lying.

Magistrate Reid -- You don't deny that Mr. Hays?

"Had he not the right to punish him?" countered Mr. Hays. "There is no evidence that the punishment was severe."

"Well, there is nothing here to show that he is an apprentice," said the Magistrate. "He was there to work on the farm."

Crown Attorney Seager, at the outset of his remarks before the court, drew attention to sections 290 and 291 of the Criminal Code, wherein common assault is defined as intentionally applying force to the person of another, directly or indirectly, without the consent of the other, and for which offense the maximum penalty is one year's imprisonment, or a fine of $100. "Did Cox do that? That he did is proved beyond peradventure." asserted Mr. Seager: "It can't be denied.

Denies Apprentice Theory.

"Was Cox master of an apprentice? I contend not. The contract between Cox and the Marchment Home people speaks for itself. Bulpitt was there simply as a hired boy, a hired man. No person can become an apprentice here except under the statutes of Ontario. The law states exactly what is to be done."

Mr. Seager then read chapter 147, section 3, of the Apprenticeship and Minors Act. "A boy cannot be apprenticed out in this country at anybody's sweet will; it has got to be done in writing, according to the law, and under the protection of the law. There has not been one tittle of evidence offered here to show that Bulpitt was an apprentice and Cox his master. The case is proved to the hilt as far as assault is concerned and 'frequently." The case is as plain as daylight; it does not call for any further delay." concluded Mr. Seager.

"Mr. Cox," began Magistrate Reid, addressing the defendant, "you are charged with assaulting and beating Charles Bulpitt. The evidence is very clear that this happened. You had not any color or right to chastise him, he not being an apprentice. I don't wish to deliver any lecture to you regarding this unfortunate affair."

"I know that you have suffered in mind and body during the past few weeks more than any punishment that I could possibly mete out to you here. The sentence of the court upon you is that you be imprisioned in the county jail for the space of two calendar months."

Mr. Hays and his client will decide within a day or two whether they will take the case to the Court of Appeal at Toronto or not.

The Toronto Star Weekly reported on Saturday, February 2 1924 (page 1).

"'HANDS OFF' RULES WHERE HOME BOYS ARE CONCERNED

So Says John Hobday, Canadian MAnager for the Dr Barnardo Home

NO DOUBT ON POINT

And Mr Hobday says Frequent Inspections Protect the Young Wards

Barnardo Home officials will not countenance the administration of corporal punishment to their boys by employers or anyone else, John W Hobday, Canadian manager of the Homes, stated in an interview with the Star today.

When an employer fills an application asking for one of the boys from the home he signs a statement in which it is stated in large type that such treatment is against the law.

Mr Hobday said that not in five years of managership of the Canadian Branch of the homes had he seen an instance of boys being ill-treated. The Omemee case was the first case of suicide in the annals of the homes, to Mr Hobday's knowledge.

"People have written to us asking us whether if the boy was disobedient or impertinent they had the right to thrash him." said Mr Hobday, "and always the reply always was, and always will be, "Don't you dare lay a finger on him !" The strength of our work has always been in the affection the boys have felt toward us, and we would immediately withdraw from any home any boy whose employer dared strike him.

TO FRIGHTEN FARMER

It is Mr Hobday's opinion that the boy who took the paris green was trying to frighten the farmer in whose employ he was and he had no intention of committing suicide. It is at the behest of the homes that an inquest is being held, even though it was at first thought unnecessary.

The Canadian manager said that the home knew the Omemee farmer, Fee, for twenty years and during that time there was not a black mark against him. His home was visited on October 23 last to see if the boy was happy, and he reported that he was quite content. Eight inspectors are on the road all the time, and two supplementary inspectors are available for service at a moment's notice. Last year six inspectors from headquarters came to Canada to carry on inspections of the homes on their own initiative, and returned with glowing reports of the manner in which the work is being carried on in this country and the absolute contentedness of the children."

Charles is buried in Colborne Cemetery, Ontario, Canada. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-03-07 14:08:09 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-01-03 22:03:06 /

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3301 BULPITT, Charles Thomas1907ENG, HAM, South Stoneham Aug 1923 : Megantic CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home