LEVYING BLACKMAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 268, 14 November 1887, Page 5

LEVYING BLACKMAIL.

THE AFFILIATION CASE

DISMISSED,

MISS BROWN CHARGED WITH

PERJURY.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE POLICE COURT.

The blackmailing case in which the woman Ellen Frances Brown is concerned appears to be attracting a great deal of public attention owing to the boldness and unusuaj character of the imposture. The Police Court was crowded this morning when the case was brought forward. Mr H. C. Baddeley, R.M., occupied the Bench, and Mr Hudson Williamson appeared for George R. Pooley, the defendant in the alfiliatioa case. The Affiliation Case. This case was called on first. —George R. Pooley on remand was charged that he did on the 7th of October, 1887, at Auckland, refuse to provide for the support of his illegitimate female child under the age of 14 years, of which one Ellen Frances Brown ia the mother, and the said G. It. Pooley the father. His Worship stated the position of the case at the adjournment Mr Theo. Cooper stated at this stage that after the circumstances that had come to light in this case he had no intention of proceeding with it. Air Williamson said he did not propose to offer any further evidence in this case, and in view of facts which had come to light since the remand had been granted, he now asked that the information against Pooley should be dismissed, and further proceedings should be instituted against Miss Brown for perjury. His Worship said that if evidence was placed before him to bear out the statements made, lie would dismiss the case and order that the woman Brown be prosecuted for perjury. Evidence was then taken as follows :

Adelaide Hall, matron of Mrs Cowie's Home at Parnell, deposed that she saw Miss Brown at the Home in September last. She got from witness the baby procured, which she said she wished to adopt for a lady in Waikato. She took the child away. Witness saw the child again on Thursday last at Miss Brown's house in Richmond Road. Constable Graham accompanied witness to the house. They took the baby away from the woman.

Constable Graham, stationed atPonsonby, had known Miss Brown for some time. He had a conversation with her about the affiliation* case in which Mr Pooley wus concerned. Saw Miss Brown outside the Court this day weelc with the baby in her arms. Went to Miss Brown's house on Thursday last, and obtained from her tho same baby (.hat Miss Brown had in the Court. He handed the baby to Miss Hall, who recognised both the baby and tho woman who obtained it from tho home. Miss Brown then asked him to come into a room oil' the kitchen, and 'there admitted that the child was tho one which she obtained from the Home. Ho recognised the baby in Court as tho baby in dispute. Miss Brown had also told him that she obtained the child in order to compel Pooley to support her. On this evidenco Mr Williamson asked that the ease be dismissed, and suggested that in such a. barefaced case as this the woman Brown should be prosecuted lor perjury. His Worship said that this course would certainly be pursued, and he instructed tjiafc a prosecution for perjury should be commenced against Miss Brown. He thought Pooley should not bo saddled with the prosecution in this case. The case was one of the most barefaced and shameful he had ever come across. It did certainly seem to him that insufficient care had been exercised in allowing children to leave the Home in a case like this. A woman who was unknown came to the Home, and was allowed to take a child away, and who was to know that the child would nob be ill-treated ?

Mr Williamson said that His Worship had some experience of the plausiblo ways of the woman Brown in the manner in which she lied when giving her evidence in Court.

His Worship said that he was quite astonished at the shameless manner in which the woman stood in the witness-box and committed perjury. She lied go naturally*.that at one time lie thought the case was very much against Mr Williamson's client. The honesty of Pooloy, on the contrary, was equally remarkable. In fact, under similar circ&mstances he did nob remember of a man having been so honest and straightforward in his admission. The information against Pooley was, of course, dismissed. Levying Blackmail. Ellen Francis Brown was then charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act, 1884, by endeavouring to impose upon a private individual by v false representation, with a view to obtain money, at Auckland on the 19th October, 1887. Sergeant Pratt said he intended to ask fora remand in this case, as it was intended to bring against the accused two other charges, one for perjury, and another for making a false declaration to the Eegistrar of Births. Prisoner was accordingly remanded for eight days.