1901 Census, 9 St Martins Street, Lincoln, William Wilson, head married 40 Labourer at Iron Foundry, worker, born Louth, Lincolnshire, Susan Wilson, wife 49 born Lincoln. Elizabeth Lanes daughter, single, born Lincoln and Elizabeth Lanes granddaughter 3 born Lincoln.

1903. Lincolnshire Chronicle, 8 September 1903. Lincoln City Police. A child’s neglected condition. A sad case was next investigated, Elizabeth Lanes, a single woman, of 9 St Martin’s-street, being charged with, between the 20th August and 5th September, she having custody of Lizzie Lanes, aged five years, unlawfully and wilfully neglected her in such a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to her health. When asked whether she would have the case heard by the magistrates or if she desired it to be tried by a jury at the Quarter Sessions, the defendent could not apparently be made to understand the question, and her step-father (Mr Wilson) appeared in Court, and said defendent was not altogether right. Inspector Swaby (who was in charge of the Court) said the woman was not altogether bright. The magistrates’ clerk (Mr E E Tweed): Will you be tried by the gentlemen on the Bench? Wilson: Say yes. Defendent: Yes. Mr Harold S Page said he appeared to prosecute on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Lizzie Lanes was illegitimate child of the defendant, and attended St Martin’s school. For some time past the schoolmistress had noticed the filthy condition of the child’s head, and had repeatedly warned the mother, but no notice was taken of the complaints, and at length the schoolmistress felt compelled to communicate with Inspector Dowsing. The Inspector visited the school and examined the child. He found her in a filthy state, and went to see the mother. She professed entire ignorance of the fact the child was in a filthy condition. Dr Lambert saw the child on the following day, and he would speak of the condition of the child. One serious point was that a child attending school in that condition was liable to communicate the affection to others and this had been the case in some extent. Inspector Dowsing said he examined the child on the 3rd September. The child was alive with vermin and the scalp was raw in places. The clothing was also in a shocking condition, black with dirt and full of vermin. He saw the mother and she said she did not know it was so bad. Witness thought it advisable that the child should have medical attention, and the next morning went with her to Dr Lambert. The child was now in the Workhouse infirmary. The defendant was keeping house for Wm Wilson. Dr Lambert said the child was in a really most deplorable verminous condition; it was the worst case he had seen for years. The head was raw for a considerable area, and there was discharge. The hair was beaded with head sores. The condition of the child would inevitably cause a considerable amount of suffering and be detrimental to health. The child was nourised, Miss Gertrude Askew, the head mistress of St Martin’s Infants’ school, said no notice was taken by the mother of her complaints. Mr Bell: Do you think it is ignorance or absolute neglect. Witness: Absolute neglect. Mr Bell: Though she appears to understand so little now, did your conversation with her satisfy you that she knew perfectly well what you were talking about? Witness: Yes, I am sure she did. The defendant, when asked if she had anything to say, made no reply, and her step-father (Mr Wilson) said he-was an out-door porter. The defendant did not know really what she was doing. Mr Bell: You must have known the child was in this condition? Witness: Well, I could not help it. I cannot stay at home to look after the child. I have to go out to earn a living. Mr Rainforth: Did you support her? Witness: Yes, Mr Bell said the magistrates considered the case a very cruel one, and they did not believe that the defendant was quite ignorant as she wanted to make that morning. She would be convicted of that offence of great cruelty to the child, who was in a dreadful condition. It was a very wrong for a child in that condition to be sent to school and put so many others in danger. The defendant would have to go to prison for one month, with hard labour.

It is likely that the cause for Lizzie’s neglect could be that, if her mother was ‘simple’, then her grandmother Susan, would have been helping with her care, as they all lived at the same address. Susan died in June 1903, which would have meant Lizzie being cared for solely by her mother.

1911 Census, High Street, Saxilby, Lincoln. John Smalley, head age 76, married, old age pensioner, born Lincoln Brant Broughton, Mary wife, age 73, amrried 53 years, 4 children 3 alive, old age pensioner born Saxilby, Lincoln and Lizzie Lanes, boarder age 13 at school born “Lincoln, Union/City.’

1922 England & Wales Death Reg Index. Lizzie Lanes, age 25 death reg. Apr/Jun 1922, Lincoln, Vol 7A, Page 594