A Lamentable Case.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4357, 18 December 1882, Page 2

A Lamentable Case.

At the E.M. Court this morning, George Henry Rolton was charged with refusing to contribute to the support of his illegitimate child by his daughter, Eliza Priscilla Eolton. Defendant called upon God to witness that he was not the child's father. The plaintiff, a young woman aged 18 years, deposed that defendant was father of the child, a female, now eight weeks old. Defendant was her father. (Letters were handed by defendant* to the Beffch.) Plaintiff deposed the letters were written by

her from Auckland to defendant at Thames.. They.were written by her little brother Jimmy, aged 15, at her dictation, and she copied them off. She knew a young man named George Cleave after she left Mrs Marshall's. She walked out with him till 10 o'clock on one occasion, bat no harm was done. (Defendant produced a scarf which his mistress informed him was worn by plaintiff on that occasion, and was covered with^burrs when she came home). Cleave met her one day and said he heard she was going to send a summons for him. She replied she did not blame him for the child, but those that deserved it., George Cleave was not its father; there never had been anything improper between them. Her father first was guilty of impropriety on board the Blanche, and nearly every time when she came from Mrs Marshall's, about once a week. She went two trips to Coromaadel with him. The impropriety occurred when the vessel was alongside the wharf. After she left Mra Marshall's she told her father's housekeeper about it, and she cast ft up to him, saying, " What did you do to your daughter at Parawai P " She told her sister about it before she went to town, which was on May 23rd. Her father and she had not improper intimacy since. The last time they were together was at the railway beside the trucks at the foot of Mary street. She always j tried to get away..

At this stage His Worship suggested that this:was a proper case for the police to take up.. Either the plaintiff was was committing wilful perjury, or the defendant had been guilty of a great crime. The truth or otherwise of Hhe accusation should be proven in the public interest. The girl said she had no means, so it would be advisable to procure the attendance of her sisters and brothers, or any other witnesses. The Bench could not adjudicate the defendant guilty on the evidence of the plaintiff alone. Sergt.-Major Kiely promised to have the matter inquired into, and issue subpoenas. , ; . ' The defendent said he could save the Bench a great deal of time and trouble by undergoing a medical examination. It could be seen that he was a cripple, and incapable of parental functions. The plaintiff was well schooled by a bad woman, whom he cast off sixteen years ago. This charge was the result of a conspiracy against him. His Worship hoped, in the interest of public morality, that defendant'? statement was correct. —The case was adjourned till January sth.