SHOCKING CASE IN COURT-

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1056, 20 February 1911, Page 4

SHOCKING CASE IN COURT-

A YOUNG WOMAN'S HISTORY; ' (By Telegraph—Press-Association.) /.: .- Christchurch, February 19. • An unusual type, of case came before - Mr. H; W. Bishop, S.Mj Jit the Juvenile • : Court on Saturday morning, when an infant was charged with-being-an indigent- ■■ child. To deal with the infant presented -; no problem to"magistrate,. as .the ... ; .Destitute Persons'4ct provides the neces- - sary machinery,\but the tale unfolded in ./... regard to -the iiilaut's mother. placed: the. magistrate.!!! a difficulty as,.to wtot to ao - witn.her. .. • ■ It was stated that she was a single girl only 21 years of age, and that themlaut in question, was the. third which she: had ■ - given, birth to. in four years. Tlic hrst was born' when she was 17.' • Tho girl's-sister-in-law, who is a thoroughly respectable woman, and whose husband is. a'bootmaker,' explained - the extraordinary circumstances to the magistrate. She said; that the girl was unable to resist advances, and tha,t, though , ; * she had for some tiirie past been living ■ ; ■at.witness's house, and had been allowed " j out only in the daytime to go to work at .... a. factory, Estill the same-thing happened. , The. girl did not know' the name of; the father ; of' any. of the - children.. Witness had adopted'the. previous child,-but was unable,'to undertake the care of the : present infant. • \-. vThe magistrate, said that-the girl was .. <■ evidently weak-willed, and if - she:-was not kept under control, would continue " j to bring'illegitimate children • into the; . world. ' .- - ■ "V. - The girl's sistev-in-law stated that she had been told, that by a 1 doctor: ■ Continuing/ the said that no .•••, provision was" .made'in the present law for dealing with such a case.* Properly ■ • speaking, lie', should have power .to order • tho"' girl to bo . plated where she would ba . under control,.but,' as'tlje law, stood at • present, there was no "opportunity of dealing with her unless she could be charged with an offence. His Worship added that ■ the; girl's sister-in-law had behnved with/: every credit,'and had done more than her duty.. .". Mr; T. I. Smaill'suggested that: tha • Samaritan Home would be a suitable ■■ place for the,girl," and,he offered, to have a room found there for her aud the in-> fant," idiich'is about five months old/ ITe : -■ said that" sho- would be well looked "'after,' ! .. lind would not be allowed. to mix with-' undesirable -acquaintances. . -r. I '. ■■■- " The girl,; who was; in a fearful." state, ;: /v ; seemed ,much attached to the infant, nnd - was;anxious that it should not be'.-.taken from; her.* - She consented -to go to the . Samaritan Home, and, after some father- •: , ly advice hid been given her by. the.magistrate..she and the infant-were taken '- / ■ th6re by Mr. Smaill. :.- :• . : i ; - 7