AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 7367, 12 November 1887, Page 2

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

AUCKLAND, November 12 ; The charge of attempted blackmailing preferred against Ellen Frances Brown discloses most extraordinary features. Pooley admits being on terms of very close Intimacy with the prisoner, but had strong suspicions when the child was produced and a claim made on him for its maintenance. The inquiries showed that Brown had gone to the Fallen Women’s Home at Parnell, representing herself as Mrs MarShall; a widow in good circumstances, and stated that she wished to adopt a child, rfer story appears to have been readily believed by Mrs Hall, the manager of the Home, and, without further inquiries as to correctness or otherwise of the woman’s statement, one of the infants then being cared for in the Institution was given to Brown, who. afterwards proceeded to the office of the Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths and registered the birth of this child, signing herself as its g other. . She next issued a summons against Pooley for its maintenance; The woman resides in Brodrn street, Ponsonby, and it i§ sfated that since she obtained the child she has ill-treated it. Her conduct towards the unfortunate child became the subject of talk amongst the neighbors, and eventually came to the ears of Mrs Hall, Who took steps to regain possession of the infant and bring it back to the Home. It was her action that exposed the conspiracy of which Pooley was to have been the victim. It is alleged that Brown made a simitar false declaration to the Registrar about two years ago, when she asserted that a man named O’Neill was the father of a child which she stated to have been born to him ; and this charge will probably also be preferred against her when sufficient evidence has been procured.