A CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13465, 18 April 1907, Page 5

A CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY.

DISAPPEARANCE OF AN INFANT.

[IIY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION".]

Ciiristchtirch, Wednesday. A somewhat sensational story is in circulation, and is believed to be under investigation by the police. It is stated that a young man was responsible for the trouble of a young girl in Christehurch recently, and when the child was born he informed her that he had arranged to have it adopted. With that object in view, he arranged to meet her on the Belfast Road, where it is stated, he was to take charge of the infant for the purpose of handing it over to the people who were to act as its future guardians. The girl, in company with a married woman, accordingly went to the rendezvous mentioned by the young man, whore he joined them. He is said to have been considerably annoyed at the presence of a third party, and talked rather severely to the mother of the child for her want of forethought in allowing the other woman to accompany her. The child was handed to him, and he is alleged to have ridden oft" with it on his bicycle. Some time afterwards, the mother became suspicious, and is said to have communicated her fears to the police. An investigation was set on foot, and the young man, being questioned on the matter, is stated to have denied absolutely ever seeing th'e infant. He has, it is said, left Christchurch, and has not been heard of since. It is not known what lias become of the infant.