LEFT ON A LAWN

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 89, 11 January 1923, Page 5

LEFT ON A LAWN

MOTHER ABANDONS HER CHILD A PATHETIC CASE She was only a little woman and sho wept copious tears when her name, Ellen Marv Ansell, was called in tne Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer a chargo of unlawfully abandoning a female child, 14 days old. 'The prosecution was conducted by Sub-Inspector Cummings, and Mr. R. R. Scott represented the accused. Annie O’Sullivan, a pupil nurse attached to St. Helens Maternity Home, stated that on December 16 accused, under the name of Mary Ford, gave birth to a female child. On December 30 she left the institution, taking the infant with her. The discovery of the child on the lawn of the Salvation Army Hospital, in Kensington Street, on the afternoon of the same day was described by Annie Eliza Beck, one of tho officials. Tho child was well wrapped up and well clothed. . . Sergeant Stark said that in the course of an interview accused stated that she had been living apart from her husband for two years, and was obliged to support herself by going out to work. Sho admitted leaving tho child on the lawn. The Magistrate at this stage decided to amend the laying of tho information to section 28 of the Infants Act. 1908, in order that the matter might be disposed of summarily. Mr. Scott, in entering a plea of guilty, contended that the case was not one of callous abandonment. Ih.e woman was in an unfortunate position, and for the past year had received only £6 from her husband, from whom she was living part Sho had been compelled to go out washing, a,nd it was absolutely impossible for her to support a child in addition to the two who were not bread-winners, Counsel asked that accused bo convicted and ordered to come un for sentence when called upon. The Magistrate stated that it was only proper that where a person had abandoned a child that could not look after itself the matter should be ventilated. since the punishment would act as a deterrent to others. In the case under review the accused had acted foolishly, and if it were her desire to have the child adopted it was difficult to see why she had not called upon the Salvation Army authorities, for they were always ready to give assistance.' The manner m which sho had acted was dangerous and improper. Accused would be convicted a.nd ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within six months.