CHILD ABANDONED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21923, 18 January 1946, Page 4

CHILD ABANDONED

LEFT IN CHURCHYARD

WOMAN ADMITS GUILT

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. The sequel to the finding of a newlyborn male child on an old grave in the churchyard of St. Andrew’s Church, Epsom, on the night of December 5 was the appearance on summons of the mother, a young married woman, in the Police Court before the magistrate this morning. The woman was charged with unlawfully abandoning the child. Mrs. Linda Willis, wife of the vicar of St. Andrew's, said that two women called at “The Vicarage” at 8.30 p.m. on December 5, as a result of which she heard a baby crying on a gsave surrounded by an iron fence and covered with long grass. She saw a bundle, which, upon examination, proved to be a baby wrapped in newspaper and enclosed in a sugar bag. The top of the bag'was folded back over its head. The witness said she took the baby to “The Vicarage.” Detective C. A. Lane said that the accused called at the detective office on December 8 and made an explanation. The detective added that the baby suffered no permanent harm as a result of exposure. It had now been adopted. The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He name was suppressed.