Catherine Mary SLATER [1271]

   Other names for Catherine were Kitty BONHAM, Kate SLATER and Kitty SLATER.

  General Notes:

The Kyneton Observer (Vic. : 1856 - 1900) Sat 7 Mar 1896 Page 3 THE CONVENT SCHOOL.
THE CONVENT SCHOOL.
The annual distribution of prizes at the Convent Primary School, postponed from December, took place yesterday. There was a large attendance of parents and friends of the scholars. The Very Revd. Dean Hegarty. presided, and the following priests were also present: ...................
Preparatory Class - John Casey, Blanche Withers, Lillie Walsh. Ely O'Neill. Mary Sheehan. Kate Slater, Patrick Jfillis, Charlie Westblade, ............................
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240963346

The Kyneton Observer (Vic. : 1856 - 1900) Thu 24 Dec 1896 Page 5 ST. JOSEPH'S PRIMARY
ST. JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL.
The annual break-up festival in connection with St. Joseph's convent Primary School took place on Tuesday in the presence of a large number of the parents and friends of the scholars. Before the presentation of prizes took place, a programme of exceptional excellence was furnished by the juveniles, who acquitted themselves in a highly satisfactory manner.
............................................. The following is the prize list .......................... CLASS L - Siley O'Neill, 1; Blanche Withers, 2; Lily Walshe, 3; Kate Slater, 4 .............................
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240668204

The Kyneton Observer (Vic. : 1856 - 1900) Thu 3 Dec 1896 Page 2 Fearful Cruelty to a Child.

Fearful Cruelty to a Child

EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT
A case was ventilated at the police Court on Tuesday before Messrs M.K. Armstrong and J. Menzies, J'sP., in which an aged woman named Mrs Mary Brennan, a resident of Wedge street, was charged with having cruelly ill-used a child between the 2nd September and the 19th November. The evidence revealed a shocking state of affairs, and had not absolute proof being forthcoming, it would have been extremely difficult to credit that a woman could, so far forget her sex as to practice such fiendish cruelties upon an innocent child. The barbarous treatment that the unfortunate victim received will not likely be forgotten by her for many years to come, and though the bench had power to award imprisonment they did not exercise that right, but inflicted a substantial fine.

The case was brought at the instance of the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to, and Neglect of Children, and the prosecution was ably conducted by Sergeant Beck.

The victim of the unmerciful beatings, Elsie Macan, who is a bright, intelligent child gave her evidence in a most convincing fashion and brought-out all the details of her far from pleasurable stay under the inhospitable roof of Mrs Brennan, without any prompting whatever.

The defendant, who was granted permission to sit down, was represented by Mr Palmer, and pleaded not guilty.

Sergeant Beck stated that proceedings were taken under section 117 of the Infant Life Protection Act, the defendant being charged with wilfully ill-treating a girl under the age of 14 years, such ill-treatment resulting in bodily injury to the victim. The bench had power to inflict a penalty not exceeding £50. or award a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. Mrs Brennan was an old resident of the town and was in fairly comfortable circumstances. She resided by herself in Wedge Street. At the latter end of August last she was in Melbourne and agreed with Mrs Macan, a widow residing in East Malvern, to take her daughter. Elsie, aged eight years, who, in consideration of living with her as companion, was to be clothed, fed and sent to school. Mrs Macan and the defendant were strangers prior to the arrangement, which had been brought about by a mutual friend. The defendant took the little girl to Kyneton on the 3rd September, and Kept her till the 19th November, on which date she returned her to her mother. Prior to that some enquiries had been made by the police concerning the treatment the child had received. The child was returned to the mother in an entirely different state to when she left her home. She was in a filthy condition, her head being covered with vermin, and a considerable portion of her hair at the back and right side was missing, it having been pulled out. There were marks on the right side of her face, on the ear, the back of the head, and on her right and left arms. He considered that after the bench had heard the whole evidence they would not have the slightest doubt that the case had been fully proved. If they were satisfied he would ask for a severe penalty to be inflicted. The prosecutor concluded with the remark : "It is without doubt one of the most cruel and brutal cases that I have ever seen."

All witnesses were ordered out of court Elsie Macan was the first witness called for the prosecution. Her head was scarcely to be seen in the witness-box, and she was placed on a chair just below the bench. Although she expressed her ignorance of the nature of an oath, she asserted that she knew the difference between truth and untruth, and indicated the consequences that would happen to her in the event of telling a lie. She was allowed to be sworn. Her evidence was as follows:-
My mother resides in Jordan Street, East Malvern. I remember coming to Kyneton with Mrs Brennan. I left her on a Thursday and have been home two Sundays since. During the time I was with Mrs Brennan I went to the Convent School. I had to scrub six rooms at first, and two additional rooms afterwards. I had to chop wood and cut grass with a knife. I was not treated kindly by Mrs Brennan, who beat me across the head with a whip. Nearly every day I received a beating.

Whatever I did I could never please her I was also beaten frequently across the back and face with a stick, and across the head with a rope. On one occasion I was struck on the back with a box, and on another on the right arm with a soup ladle. When I first went to Kyneton my hair was down to my shoulders, but I had to get it cut since. The defendant often caught me by the hair with her two hands, and dragged it out by the roots. That happened whenever she could not find the whip to beat me. The defendant swung me round by the hair of my head on another occasion, and I caught her by the dress to save myself from falling. I remember the postman coming to Mrs Brennan's place and saying that he would give her in charge if she ill-treated me.

Mrs Brennan told me to say if the police came that I was well treated and got everything I wanted. The marks on my head and arm were caused by the beatings I received from Mrs Brennan with whip, stick, and rope. The bare patches on my bead resulted from the hair being pulled out by the defendant.

I was frightened to comb my hair for fear Mrs Brennan would cut it off. I had not sufficient to eat. Sometimes I received dry bread, and other times bread and treacle. I went twice without breakfast and once without tea. I could not find the rope for her one morning and she threatened to pull my hair out. She had also threatened to massacre me, and called me a reprobate, a '97'97 wretch, and an infernal wretch. I was frightened to tell anybody through fear of her. I did not fall down and mark myself. No-one beat me but Mrs Brennan.

To Mr Palmer : It was Mrs Hughes who made arrangements for me to stop with the defendant. I went to the Convent school pretty regularly. I did not tell the nuns of the treatment I received, as Mrs Brennan had threatened to massacre me if I did. It was after Mrs Brennan had shifted to where she now resides that the ill treatment began. Mrs Brennan had told me when I first came to her not to stop talking to people, and not to tell my name. I got milk from Mrs Grant on one occasion and told her my name. Mrs Brennan said she would massacre me with a knife if I so offended again. I never made a complaint to anyone. I wrote to my mother once.

To Sergeant Beck: I had agreed with my mother to put a cross in my letters if I were ill-treated. In the only one I wrote I put that mark. When any person was in the house Mrs Brennan treated me kindly.

Teresa Macan, mother of the last witness, stated she was a widow residing in East Malvern. She had a family of seven to support and was in poor circumstances. Mrs Hughes resided in Windsor, close to where Mrs Brennan's son lived. In consequence of something Mrs Hughes had said, she went to see Mrs Brennan at her son's house. An arrangement was then made that her daughter Elsie should live with the defendant in consideration of receiving a home and every comfort,

She had been led to understand that Mrs Brennan was in good circumstances, and she had let her daughter go believing she would be made happy. It was on the 2nd September that her daughter left home, and she was then in a perfectly clean condition.

There were no marks about her body, head, or face, and her hair was hanging down to her shoulders in curls. When she returned on the 19th ult. she was filthy with vermin; her hair was pulled out in various places, and there were bruises on the arm; left shoulder, back, and side of her head. Her daughter informed her of the nature of her treatment, and she took her to the police station at Malvern. The charge was out, and she then went to Mr Church, secretary of the Society or the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. At his suggestion she visited Dr Stawell's surgery.

Mrs Hughes had not told her that Mrs Brennan had previously ill treated a child. If she had known that the defendant was not a motherly person she would not have entrusted her daughter to her keeping. She had instructed her daughter to put a cross in her letters home if she were not well treated. She had received a letter bearing the Kyneton post mark, and signed "Humanity" informing her of the cruelty practiced upon her child.

Mr Palmer objected to the latter portion of the evidence and the bench held it was not admissible.

Witness (continuing) remarked that the first and only letter she received from her child contained a mark in the shape of a cross. She had complained to the police prior to the child returning home. Her daughter had always been taught to be truthful, and she had never found her out in a lie.

To Mr Palmer: Her daughter had never a ringworm in her head.

To Sergeant Beck: Mrs Brennan had written then to her saying she was sending her daughter home. Prior to that however, she had made inquiries through the police.

Dr Richard Stawell, practicing his profession in Collins street, Melbourne, deposed that Mrs Macan and daughter visited his surgery on the 20th ult. He examined the little girl and found her bruised on the right cheek.

There were two comparatively recent bruises on the right upper arm and one on the left arm. Her head was partly denuded of hair and was covered with nits and lice The bruises could be caused in the manner stated by the child.

There was no suggestion of any local ringworm to cause the hair to fall at the back of the child's head, neither was there any inflammation about the scalp. The injuries would cause bodily suffering. The childs hands were hard and scratched in places, and it was evident she had used them a good deal in hard manual work. He had ordered the child's hair to be cut off, as it was in a filthy state.

William Noble, an inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children also gave evidence regarding the condition of the girl, who, in his opinion, must have been a complete slave. Her hands were blistered and scratched, and very hard.

Catherine Slater, who resides two doors from the defendant's place, stated that she had heard Mrs Brennan say to the girl "You _______wretch I will tear all the hair out of your head." Had also heard her abusing her frequently.

Sarah Buscall, age 11 years, said passing the defendant's place one day when she saw Mrs Brennan hitting Elsie Macan with shut fists. The defendant called her a _____ wretch at the same time.

Bella Cossons stated that she saw the defendant beating the girl on the back with a stick, and heard her voicing her intention to make her work.

"W. Henry Arblaster, a letter-carrier said he witnessed Mrs Brennan striking the child with her fist on one occasion. He had heard of the defendant's conduct in regard ; to the child, and told her that he would inform the police. She murmured something in reply.

He had a letter for the girl subsequently and saw the defendant near her side gate. Defendant asked him to throw it down. He told her it was not his duty to throw letters about, but she refused to take it. He went to her front door to see if he could see child, and the defendant came out. She asked him again to throw the letter down which he declined. He eventually scaled the side gate and gave the letter to Elsie Macan who was in a little room off the kitchen.

To Mr Palmer: He saw the defendant beating a child some two years ago and spoke to Constable Crimmins about her conduct. He did not send a letter to Mrs Macan pointing out the ill-treatment her daughter received. He was not on familiar terms with Mrs Brennan. Whenever he had a letter for her she snatched it from him.

This closed the case for the prosecution.

Mr Palmer addressed the Bench briefly for the defence. He remarked that the defendant denied that she had ill-treated the child as described. It was a strange thing that the girl had never complained about the alleged ill-usage.

George Cook deposed that on last Thursday week, the girl, Elsie Macan, travelled with him in the train to Spencer street, she did not complain to him about being ill-treated by Mrs Brennan. A young man took charge of her when the train arrived at its destination. Before the train left the Kyneton station he heard the defendant bid bye to the girl, to whom she gave an orange.

Teresa Hughes, a married woman, living in Prahran, stated that she spoke to child asking her if she would like to live with Mrs Brennan. Mrs Macan saw her on the matter and a conversation ensued. Witness told her that the defendant was a bit rough in her ways. She also made it known that the defendant had a child at one time from St. Joseph's Home, and that somebody having an
ill-feeling towards her had complained that the youngster was not well treated. It was ultimately arranged that Elsie Macan should go with defendant. Mrs Macan told her daughter to inform a policeman if she were ill-used, and witness reminded the girl that the nuns would assist her if she were unkindly treated.

Sergeant Beck: Would you not be astonished to know that the girl Mrs Brennan took from St. Joseph's Home had to be removed in consequence of the defendant's conduct ?

Witness replied in the affirmative.
Sergeant Beck : It is a fact then.
Thomas Brennan, a son of the defendant, residing at Windsor, gave unimportant testimony.

John Hunt, licensee of the Kyneton Hotel he had seen Elsie Macan on various occasions during the time she was with Mrs Brennan, and she always appeared to him to be well dressed and well cared for.

This closed the case for the defence.

Defendant did not give evidence on her own behalf.

The Chairman said the evidence for the defence had not really touched the points of the case. It was necessary that the State should protect orphan children boarded out. As a preventive from anyone acting as Mrs Brennan had done, the Bench had decided to fine her £10. Costs amounting to £4 11-11 were also allowed.

The Chairman then addressed the defendant as follows: - It has been given in evidence that you have cruelly ill-treated the child. It is not the first occasion that you have done so. The Bench hopes that the penalty will be sufficient to prevent you misconducting yourself in that way again.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240667655

The Kyneton Observer (Vic. : 1856 - 1900) Sat 24 Jul 1897 Page 3 NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
NEGLECTED
CHILDREN,
- At the police court yesterday morning before Messrs J - E - Andrew sand N. Blencowe, J s.P four orphan children, Caroline, Kate, Frances, and John Slater, whose ages ranged from 15 to 4 years, were presented on a charge of being neglected children.

The case was heard in chambers.
Sergeant Beck explained that the father of the children - Thomas Slater - died about 3 years ago, and they were deprived of their mother by death a month since. Since the demise of their mother they had been living with their aunt, Miss Slater, who was unable to support them unaided any longer. Mrs Hurry, the local correspondent of the boarding-out committee, had arranged with Mr Miller, the secretary of the Department for Neglected Children, to have them handed over to Miss Slater in the event of the bench committing them to the care of the department. The eldest girl was 15 years of age. She could neither read nor write and be thought it was far better to have her brought before the court with her sisters and brother and have her made a ward of the State.

Catherine Slater, aunt of the children, stated that she was a dressmaker reading in Wedge street. If granted an allowance she would be willing to look after the children. The eldest girl was strong, but was not very intelligent She had never been sent to school, as her time had been fully employed in attending to her younger sisters and brother.

Mr Andrews: The girl, in my opinion, is not at all weak-minded. In reply to Mr Andrews, Sergeant Beck stated that the department took charge of children up to 18 years of age.
Mr Andrews It would be to the advantage of the eldest girl to have her committed to the care of the department.
Sergeant Beck : Miss Slater has undertaken to have her sent to school regularly.
Mr Andrews: She cannot be compelled to go to school as she is now over the statutory age.
Miss Slater: The nuns have promised to do the best they can for her.
The bench committed the quartette to the care of the department.

*******
Catherine's (Kate) mother died when she was only 9 years old and she was raised by her spinster Aunt, who was also named Catherine Mary Slater. When she was 16 years old she developed rheumatic fever and was sent to her Uncle Alexander Scott in Deniliquin to convalesce.

Catherine was living at Sutherland Street Brunswick when the children were born. Both children have no father registered on their birth certificates, so it is unknown who was the children's father / s, but whether or not Harold was the biological son of John Bonham, he was raised as his son. Catherine never mentioned her first child, but did tell us that she was pregnant one more time, and that she was hit by someone riding a bike and the baby was born prematurely and did not survive. She also mentioned in stories that John Bonham had asked her many times to marry him but for a long time, she refused him. Another story she used to tell was that she was engaged to someone, but she broke it off with him because she found that he had made her best friend pregnant.

2018: With the help of DNA testing, and some good luck, it is now known that Harold's father was in fact a man named Harold Halstead. He was not Reginald's father as Harold Halstead didn't leave England until May 1910 and Reginald was born in June 1910, but several descendants of Harold Halstead's ancestors have strong DNA matches with both Coral Blackwell and Nancye Bonham. On finding that there was no obvious family names shared between these DNA owners, Coral asked one of them if they knew of any male relatives in Australia in 1912. About 18 months later one of the people responded that they had a great Uncle who had come to Australia in the right time period, but that as far as they knew he had not married or had any children. On researching Harold Halstead, it was found that he lived in the same area as Catherine Slater and the same time and with the strong and positive DNA match, it seems almost certain that Harold Halstead is the father of Harold William Slater Bonham.

Catherine lived at Bribie Island, Queensland for many years and returned to Victoria sometime in the 1960's. She lived in a unit at Rosebud for some time and at Garfield with her son Harold and his wife Glad on the farm at 14 Mile Road, she lived at 2 Campbell Street Garfield and also returned to Rosebud at some stage and lived in the same set of units that she had previously lived, but in a unit on the other side of the property. She also lived at 46 Garfield Road, Garfield for a short time in the mid 1970's.

In 1974 she visited to Wonthaggi to spend some time with one of her granddaughters and family. She fell down the steps at the back of the house and didn't call anyone. She took herself back to her bed and the next morning it was discovered she had injured herself badly. She was admitted to hospital with a broken hip and spent many months in the Wonthaggi Hospital, before being transferred to a nursing home in Melbourne where she subsequently died.

She was referred to as Gran or little Nanna by her Grandchildren.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Residence: Sutherland Street, Nov 1910, Brunswick, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁶

2. Residence: usual residence given on birth certificate of son, Sep 1912, Brunswick, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁷

3. Residence: 9 Sutherland Street, 1914, Brunswick, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸ Occupation - Boxmaker.

4. Residence: 185 Stawell Street, 1915-1919, Richmond, Victoria, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

5. Residence, 1924, Campbellfield, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

6. Residence: Nicholas & Watson Streets, 1924-1936, Broadmeadows, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

7. Residence: Nicholas & Watson Streets, 1937, Broadmeadows, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

8. Residence, 1942, Garfield, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

9. Residence: 21 Hanover Street, 1949, Oakleigh, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

10. Residence: Fifth Avenue, 1954, Bribie Island, QLD, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

11. Residence, 1963, Iona, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

12. Residence: Campbell Street, 1972, Garfield, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸

13. Residence: Eunice Flats, Wannaeue Street, 1976, Rosebud, Vic, Australia. ²⁰⁷⁸ This was her last residence prior to her death.

Catherine had a relationship with Uk [—?—] [8139] [MRIN: 2600].

Catherine had a relationship with Harold HALSTEAD [10072] [MRIN: 3323], son of Walter HALSTEAD [10075] and Maria WRIGHT [10074]. (Harold HALSTEAD [10072] was born on 9 Aug 1889 in Birkdale, Lancashire, England,^2079,2080 died on 5 Jul 1946 in Newcastle, NSW, Australia ^2081,2082 and was cremated on 6 Jul 1946 in Newcastle, NSW, Australia ²⁰⁸².)

Catherine next married John Stanislaus BONHAM [1272] [MRIN: 381], son of James John BONHAM [1276] and Mary Agnes JONES [1275], on 4 Jul 1914 in Brunswick, Vic, Australia.²⁰⁷⁰ (John Stanislaus BONHAM [1272] was born on 13 Nov 1871 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia ²⁰⁸³, christened on 26 Nov 1871 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia, died on 21 Aug 1955 in Bribie Island, QLD, Australia ^2084,2085 and was cremated on 23 Aug 1955 in Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)