KEEPING THE CRADLE FULL.

NZ Truth, Issue 89, 2 March 1907, Page 6

KEEPING THE CRADLE FULL.

Bouiiy Beatrice Before Beak Bishop. A' /Lyttelton woman, Beatrice Mil•ford, whp is' credited with having given birth to fourteen children, found herself *m trouble this week on account of haying made a false declaration m respect to No. 15,' an i|legitima;te. The; woman used •to live at Greymouth, where she left Her husband for some reason, or other, taking a. dozen of' her brood with her. She made for Timaru and turned up 'at Lyttelton about twelve months ago.. It was • two months, after hey 1 : arrival that the unlawful infant was born, and she blamed a man. named John Evans for the happening. She had taken up with Evana after ;' parting with hubby. But she neglected that infant m a most disgraceful .manner, so much so thaty the neighbors told the police about iti 'A charge was laid and Bishop. S.'Mi.v. could see his way to do nothing hut prder her to. come : up for sentence when called upon. ; lp was 1 jajt that rmagisterial inyestigatton!* that itcame dut that Beatrice had made, a false declaration m. respect to ■' the infant, and she pleaded- guilty and' was up before Judge Chapman for sentence this week. •' Tec. Livingstone said that the prisoner went out nursing, leaving* all her .children (nine of. them are under 12 years of age) m charge of a slip of a girl, pf 13. There is a man living'-' in the house who is ; "called a" boarder.," •As shehad sp Wny mouths to fill the 'tec. wondered how shV.got on at all, but "cqctainly the neighbors had been very Trind to them. Judge ChapmaiJ remarked that no good purpose would : be (gained by sending the 'accused, to tiiiod •; she was apparently working hard to keep her large -family, and if she were sent to gaol the State would have to keep the crowd. But she deserved .punishment, ' said' the Judge,' and if ever she came before him again she, would he, dealt 'wjth.jseyerely. .He let her go on. 'her; own recognisance.