Remarkable Case.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 112, 22 April 1884, Page 2

Remarkable Case.

[Per United Press Association.] SICKENING TALE. Wellington, April 21. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day two cases of a pecuHar nature were heard. One charged Mrs Alice Lynch with having, at Auckland in 1881 made a false declaration before the Registrar of Marriages as to the age and parentage of one Emma Howell. It appeared that accused’s sistei, who was then between twelve and thirteen, was married to one Moncton, and before the Registrar of Marriages the accused declared that the girl was her daughter, and over the age of fifteen. Mrs Lynch was committed for trial, bail being allowed, herself in £2OO and two sureties of £lOO each. Charles Henry Monckton was also charged with having made a false declaration, and was committed to stand his trial. Bail was allowed—himself in £lOO and two sureties of £5O each, A Wellington paper says;—This doesnot seem a very remarkable charge, or a heinous offence, but the circumstances disclose a a sickening tale, which would acarcely be credited in a novel. It appears that the girl about whose age the false statement was made was a sister to the prisoner, and was borne on the 27th September, 1869. The woman Lynch was cohabiting a year or two ago with a man named Moncton at Auckland, and in order to keep the little girl, then twelve and a-half years old, with her, the accused formed the idea of marrying her to Monckton. Accordingly the marriage duly took place, the woman Lynch, in order to carry the affair out properly, presenting herself as the mother of the child, and making the false declaration of which she is now accused. Afterwards, Moncton lived alternately with the girl he had been “ married” to and her sister. Sometime afterwards, it is alleged that Moncton and Alice Lynch endeavoured to persuade the little girl to became a prostitute, and the girl, who by this time was afraid of her sister and “ husband,” fled to Sydney, fearing that a direct refusal would entail violence to her. Thereupon the unnatural sister swore an information against her for larceny, on which she was brought to Wellington, when the charge turned out to be untrue. Threatening letters were then sent to her stating that if she did not consent to become a prostitute in Christchuch, she would be arrested. The present summons was served on the prisoner in Christchurch, which place she immediately left under a false name by the Wakatipu. When arrested, she admitted the offence, which she said had been done for the child’s good. Mr. Shaw appeared for the prosecution, and applied for an adjournment until that day week in order to obtain the attendance of the registrar from Auckland. Detective Campbell, called, said, that he arrested accused on board the Wakatipu. She said, “ I did make a false statement, but I did it for the child’s good.” She knew that proceedings were pending against her for bigamy. The Bench adjourned the case till Saturday next. Prisoner applying lor bail, Mr. Shaw asked that it should ba substantial. Bail was allowed, prisoner in her own recognisance of £2OO. and two sureties of £lOO each. The girl, who has apparently been subjected to such gross persecution, is at present residing at the house of Mr. Lovell, of Courtenay-place. The man referred to in the transaction is well known in Wellington, having formerly kept a photographic studio in Manners-street.”