GLUE TO PATERNITY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12315, 9 December 1925, Page 3

GLUE TO PATERNITY

DEFECT IN CHILD'S EYES UNUSUAL AUCKLAND CASE. Reserved judgment in an unusual affiliation case in which evidence of paternity was held to be corroborated by an hereditary peculiarity in the eyes of the infant, was given by Mr E. 0. Cutten, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court. . At the hearing, Mr Singer appeared for complainant, a single girl, aged 16, and Mr Schramm, opposed the application on behalf of the defendant, a married man with three children. The girl’s evidence' was to the effect that she was living with defendant’s family, and when defendant became aware of her condition, he promised to give her his war pension of 10s a week. She also stated that the child had a peculiarity in the pupils of the eyes which was also noticeable in the child of defendant’s sister.

Dr Currie said the child .was afflicted with a very yare hereditary complaint; It was disclosed by a marked blueness of the. “whites” of the eyes, and it Implied fragility of the bones. If the comnTaint was found in defendant’s family, it would be strong evidence of a peculiarity inherited from defendant. Defendant denied paternity, hut admitted offering to contribute to the birth expenses, and to take the girl back into his home. The girl’s father said defendant offered to pay up to toward expenses. The magistrate, in giving his decision, said lie considered the evidence of the hereditary phenomenon was corroborative of other facts. Defendant had admitted offering to assist the girl, aiid although she was under his care he had- never taken any steps which would indicate that he was anxious to ascertain who was responsible for her condition. His conduct was not that of a man with an innocent mind. i Defendant was adjudged the father of the child, and an order for maintenance was made accordingly.