A PECULIAR CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4136, 11 June 1892, Page 3

A PECULIAR CASE.

Unlawful Detention ofaQhili

In the Masterton R.M. Court this morning, before Messrs Burton Boys and W. Lowes, J.'s P. Lucy Treadwell Browu, wife of Augustus Brown, labortr, ot Masterton, was charged with that she did unlawfully detain Elizabeth Beatrice Palmer, a child under fourteen years of ago, and daughter of one Harry Palmer.

Mr Bunny appeared for the prose, ration, and Mr Skipper for the defendant,

Mr Bunny briefly stated the cir. cunistances of the 0180, The prosecutor, Harry Palmer, had got into trouble in February last and had been sent to Wellington. The child had then been given to Mrs Brown by Minnie Palmer for keeping. Demand had since been made for the child by Harry Palmer, who offered to pay anything reasonable for its mainten* ance, but Mrs Brown had refused to hand it over.

Mr Skipper called the attention of the Court to thfl fact that this was a criminal prosecution for illegal detention. The ohild had been placed in the care of Mrs Brown under an agreement by one Minnie Palmer, who said she was a spinster in a Lurry to leave for Melbourne. The sum of JS6 was to be paid for the child. Mr Bunny maintained that the agreement of Minnie Palmer did not secure the child. The father had a right to his own, Mr Lowes said it appeared quite clear to the Bench that this information must be dismissed, as the agreement bad been admitted.

Mr Bunny: Your Worships will not dismiss the case before the facts are before you ? Mr Lowes: You need not pick me up before I fall I

Mr Bunny: I have not admitted the agreement, I have a right to conduct my case as I think proper, Mr Lowes: Iknowyou bare. The Court was only expressing an opinion at this stago. Mr Bunny: Well, I submii your Worships had no right to express an opinion.

Frederick Artbnr Haines-Palmer, wbo was then called, deposed that the child named in the information was bis daughter by his wife Minnie Palmer, and was born in wedlock, The child was two years and three months old. (The witness here produced bis wedding certificate.) When he left Mastertonon 15th February.he did not know that his wife was going to dispone of the child. He instructed her to keep it, He afterwards ascertained that the child was in the possession of Mrs Brown, the defendant, He returned to Masterton on May 19th, He then went to the house of Mrs Brown and demanded the child, offering -to pay anything reasonable for its maintenance. Mrs Blown refused to let him have the child, and would not take money, Brown snid he was the father himself (laughter), and the child.could not have two fathers, They referred him to Mr Skipper, their lawyer, By Mr Skipper: His wifo'a name was Mary Palmer, although he gener* ally called-her Minnie Palmer. He Bhould say the signature of the agreement was not that of his wife, His wife told him that Mr and Mrs Brown got her at their house, gave ber some beer and got her to sign the agreement, the contents of which she did not know, •

Mr Bunny here pointed out that if the child was handed over to its patents the case would not be further proceeded with. The prosecution merely wanted the child, Mr Skipper stated that he had been instructed not to give up the child, The foster parents were now very fond of it, and tho course adopted by the prosecution was a heartless one, Minnie Palmer gave corroborative evidence. The case was at this stage ad* journed till Monday, .