A CURIOUS STORY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 138, 19 March 1872, Page 3

A CURIOUS STORY.

Isabella Franki.yx, a singular looking woman, who described herself as the “ widow of a captain and paymaster of the lfit.i regiment.,” (a statement which we learn is quite true), was brought up before the Resident Magistrate on Satuiday, upon a charge of inducing a little hoy named Irwin to abscond from the Industrial School, by which she made herself amenable to the penalties provided by the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act. It transpired during the proceedings that the lad is also the son of a late captain in one of Her Majesty’s Regiments in the line, sometime quartered in New Zealand, and that not only the boy, but also a sister had been induced to leave their homes by the prisoner. It was stated that the lad’s mother had married again, but be was so unruly, constantly absconding from borne, that bis mother and stop-latlier bad lost all control over him, and could do nothing with him, and they applied to have him admitted to the school, undertaking, at the same time, to pay for his maintenance. Mr Rattray was present on behalf of the commit tee of management, accompanied by MrSlioKley, tlie niastc-r of the school. The prisoner, a tall woman, with well-defined features, was dressed in shabby and dowdy black, and a shabby straw hat. A satchel hung at her side, in which were some hooks—(something line account hooks), and she persisted in making signs of recognition to the Bench, in a strange and somewhat insane, manner. There was no evidence taken, but ;t conversation took place, from which it appeared that this child had gone to this wuman’s house more than once; that she had acquired influence over him. The woman herself began to cry when she heard Inin spoken ol as an unruly bc»3 r . She would insist upon being particular in the recital of the lad's appellation. The hoy is a good-looking and rather clover-looking child of about twelve years of age. ILis Worship asked how the child came to be admitted to the Industrial School. Having heard that he was placed in the school, he was afraid he would not have power to commit. The boy did not come exactly within the description given in the Act. Ii might be so, however, and to consider the whole matter he would defer Ins judgment until Monday morning. The prisoner, when ordered to he removed, hopped and danced in an extraordinary manner. His Worship said the unfortunate woman appeared to be more fitted for a lunatic asylum than to he where she was. It was also staled in Court that while the lad was with her she was on her way to pawn his boots, and that though her freaks were very much like those of a lunatic, there was “ a nu thod in a great many of them.”— Herald.