A STRANGE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9671, 18 April 1923, Page 3

A STRANGE CASE.

CHILD TERRIFIED OF ITS MOTHER.

JUDGE ' REFUSES HER CUSTODY.

“1 am quite satisfied that in lier present condition it would be v absolutely cruel to endeavor to send the child back to her mother,” said Mr. Justice Stringer at Auckland, when called Upon to decide the custody of a twelve-year-old girl, Dorothy Violet Uulicli. The mother, Ruby Farrington (Mr. Sullivan) had applied to the Court to have legal custody of the child, which is at pres'ent in the care of the Salvation Army. The Society for the Protection of Women and Children,, who had sent the child to the Army,' were represented by Mr. Matthews, while two other barristers, Messrs. Singer and Butler, appeared on behalf of the other parties concerned in the guardianship of the child. His Honor commented, after having an interview with the child in his room, that the very suggestion of sending her home to her s *mother seemed to put her in a state of extreme nervousness. It was impossible f' l:im to tell how that condition bad come about, but it was there beyond all doubt. In addition to being backward physically the child was backward’ mentally. He stated that he had derided to grant interim custody to Adjutant Gordon, of the Salvation Army, for the next; three months. A.t the end of that- time the matte;- could he brought up again.