A SHAMEFUL TRAFFIC.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2560, 4 June 1881, Page 2

A SHAMEFUL TRAFFIC.

The following is from the “ Horae News ” of April 21 :—“ A very remarkable trial in connection with the alleged traffic in English girls for immoral purposes, and disclosing an array of facts of the gravest character, came on before the Tribunal Correctionnel at Brussels a day or two since, A man named Paradis, until quite lately the proprietor of a house of ill-fame in Brussels, notorious for its splendour and luxe, was, together with his wife and an individual named Jean Sellecarts —a Belgian long engaged in this traffic—brought before the tribunal at the instance of the Procureur-General, charged with being accessories to the debauching and violation of a young English girl named Louisa Hennessy, 18 years of age, brought from London on false pretexts by the last named prisoner, and handed over on payment of a fee to M. and Mdme Paradis. The hearing of the case, which has caused much scandal and sensation in Brussels, lasted during the whole day. Mr Snagge, of the English Bar, who watched the case on behalf of the English authorities occupied a seat on the bench. The evidence adduced for tfxe prosecution went to show that the girl Hennessy—who was. an orphan—was, while in the service of a lady at Hampstead, induced by the prisoner Sellecarts and a woman not in custody to accompany them abroad, under the impression that they were about to procure her aa situation as barmaid in Paris, where she could earn good wages. The girl was taken to Dover, and thence to Ostend, where the party were met by Madame Paradis and conducted to her house in Brussels. It was further proved that the girl was seen by at least four medical men, and ample proof was given of her chastity and extremely youthful appearance at the time of her arrival in Brussels. After a day in Brussels, she was taken by Madame Paradis to Ghent, but was refused admission there by the keeper of a similar establish, ment on the ground of her youthful appearance. Madam Paradis thereupon took her to Antwerp, where she was violated in a house of ill-fame, and whence, after a residence of a fortnight, she was sent backito Madame Paradis, at Brussels, in whose house she remained for ten or eleven months. At the end of that period the girl was found to be enceinte , and was “transferred” by Madam© Paradis to a bouse of a similar character at The Hague, a sum of 1200 frangs

being paid by the proprietors to M. Paradis for the girl and her “ effects.” Finally, she was sent back to London, and, being quite .friendless, she went to the Lambeth Workhouse,where the child since dead, was born in July. It was stated that the prisoner Pellecarts who is a singularly ill-favored looking individual, has been engaged in this traffic for several years. Being in London last year, he followed girls whom he saw walking alone, got into conversation with them, promised them good situations in Paris, induced them to go to Ostend, and then gave them up to persons who took them to houses of ill-fame. The prisoners were convicted, Paradis and his wife being sentenced to four years’ imprisonment each, and Sellecarts to six years.