An Expensive Baby.

Manawatu Herald, 12 March 1896, Page 3

An Expensive Baby.

A case possessing several curious features came before Mr Greenfield, S.M., at Wellington on Friday (says the Pott.) Camille von Meyern, who keeps'a servants' registry office in Willis-street, was charged with having nursed a child which was under the age of two years, without being duly registered under the In fant Life Protection Act, 1898. Inspector Pender said tha case was the first of its kind under the Act. Evidence was given that the defendant, on being asked about the child stated that it was left in her office by a girl who had promised to pay her 10g a week when she was able if Mrs Von Meyern would keep the child. When told that she ought to have registered herself, the defendant expressed herself ignorant of the necessity for so doing. The defendant did not appear in Court, and his Worship fined her 10s and costs 7s. After the Court had risen she arrived, and explained to a Post representative that she had taken a baby out of charity, and had not received any money for it. The child was brought into her office by a girl, and she (Mrs Von Meyern) kept it, as she saw that it was in an almost dying 3tate. Since then she had fed it up, and it was now quite strong. She complained of the condition of things into which she described as an act of charity had brought her. — Post.