A DISOWNED CHILD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 17 January 1905, Page 4

A DISOWNED CHILD.

FATHER'S EXPLANATION IN odbRT.

A remarkable defence was heard in the Police Court this morning, when a wharf labourer named James Fowler was summoned before Mr McCarthy, S.M., by the police for neglecting to maintain three children in the Auckland Industrial School. Fowler took the oath, and said he would not pay for one child's maintenance, as he was not its father. "I was sentenced in November, 1901, to three years' imprisonment for assault," he explained, "and during that time, in 1903, the child was born." The magistrate looked towards the police representative, who did not question "Fowler's statement, and he remarked: "It cant be his." Sergeant Hendry: "That is quite evident.* Mr McCarthy decided that Fowler could pay 10/ per month towards the children's maintenance, but he did not give any opinion as to whether the defendant was liable to support the child born while he was in prison. Fowler remarked that he eoold not pay, and would take the matter to the Supreme Court. He wished to question the magistrate, but Mr McCarthy ended the matter by saying that he had given his decision, and was not there to give a&siae.