The Baby did it.

Hastings Standard, Issue 122, 16 September 1896, Page 4

The Baby did it.

The Police Court at Bow-street, London, was the scene of a charming little incident on Saturday. Patrick Mehan, a licensed pedlar, was charged with disorderly conduct, and not unnaturally his wife was in court to hear the case against her husband. But luckily she brought her child, a bright little baby of two, who, as soon as he saw his father, greeted him with "Daddy, Daddy dear." This was Patrick's salvation, for when he proceeded to make excuses for his conduct, Sir John Bridge stopped him short by saying:— "You have some one in court who pleads for you much better than you can do for yourself. As you entered the court I saw your child in its mother's arms, andit cried out" Daddy" in a way that convinces me that you have been a loving father. In consequence I shall give you one more chance." So the child of two (who during the proceedings kept kissing his mother and telling her not to cry) has thus early in life proved himself a friend of the family. Let us hope that, under these auspicious circumstances, Patrick will keep the pledge which, at the instance of the magistrate, he readily promised to take.