TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 39, 30 April 1879, Page 2

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

During the' heauingof att' application for . a protection order, and custody of children, heard before Mr. Ward, Police Magistrate, at Foxton, at a late sitting", some facts were elicited, which, were they not substantiated upon oath, wofrld certainly ,be worthy of but small credence. A woman', named Ebsanna Bond, living at Bulls, applied for a protection order, and to : have the custody of her two children — one a baby aged twentyfcwo year-a; r the second, being ten. In support of so singular an application, and m explanation of- the somewhat paradoxical appellation of " bob V"' bestowed upon an adult of twenty-two, it was sworn m evidence that the "child" had never, from the-time of birth, increased one inch m statuia, or an iota, m maturity;. .Notwithstanding the number of years which had passed over, the head of the sought-for ward, it appeared that ifciad to be carried about m the artns, can neither • speak nor recognise anyone, and required to be spoonfed, like a newly-born' b'aby. During the hearing of tha case it transpired that while, neither bodily- noLmeutardeTelbpnlent had occurred, the usual facial change m conformity with the number of years bad taken place, so' that to the tfahoWep there appeared a woman's head upon an infant's body. The father and mother had lived vary unhappily, and being separated, the latter wished to have the custody of the cha*ge7pf whom she seemed peeticularlyfofld; Fflder. tb> ctocunwtanees the Court- itiade an ordeif that she should have custody during the I lifetime of the child, which, it considered^ i would also probably- embrace its infancy.' ' '