"JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON"

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2513, 13 December 1927, Page 6

"JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON"

BABY SOLD BEFORE BIRTH.

PROBLEM FOR A FRENCH JURY.

Paris, November 30.

A curious case which) appears to call for a judgment something like that of Solomon has been sent to the Seine-et-Oise Assizes.

A man named Gladieux, a gardener, and his wife were in difficulties financially, which were likely to become accentuated by the birth of a third child. A woman friend of the gardener's wife, who was in despair because she could not become a mother and who also wished to relieve the distressful situation of the couple, offered to take the new baby when it was born and to pav 300 francs for it. The offer was accepted, and in due course the baby girl was handed over to Mme. Desenclos, the friend. Several months later, when the two families took up their residence at Auvers-snr-Oise, neighbours remarked the striking resemblance between Jeannine Desenclos and the Gladieux children. Tongues began to wag. Eventually Mme. Gladieux clamoured for her child, but met with a refusal. The matter was then put into the hands of the Pontoise judicial authorities, who had the two women brought before them. The gardener's wife tearfully pleaded to have her child back, even though she had to suffer imprisonment for having sold it.

No decision could be reached, however, and this delicate matter will now. be referred to the arbitrament of a jury at the Assize Court.