A TOUGH CLAIM.

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 4

A TOUGH CLAIM.

THE SALVARMY ON THE MAKE., The Fruits of Edith's Sin. Wilford Scores on a Point. Unusual circumstances surround the civil action instituted by Frances Matilda Shackleton, matron of : the sweating Wellington Salvarmy Home, against a young man named Edward Breen, electrical engineer, for the recovery of £54, maintenance of a girl named Edith Simmonds and her unwelcome love child. The action was disposed of on a technical point, so that both sides of the case were not heard m Court. ."Truth". .has been given to understand that the defence is able to appear m a. much better liatfrt before the censorious glare of the world's scandal-loving optic, but rit present this paper only knows what occurred m Court, and there Breen and his pals didn't cut a very heroic figure. The Shackleton woman is a lean, eHerly spinster from whose appearance one would .niri^e the wells oi sympathy for unfortunate vouno; pirls had loii-.tr since dried up ; but the casual observer might be doing her an' injustice. The woman is not now matron of the Home m Thompsonstreet, and application was made to have her evidence taken m Christchurch, but the prosecution's representative -didn't turn up m the holy city's court, and solicitor Wilford, for the defence, claimed exes for abortive attendance. Mr Dunn, for plaintiff, extracted her story from his client, and counsel mentioned that there was A STRONG ELEMENT OP FRAUD m the case. The lady m the hideous poke bonnet remarked that a man named Cooper came to the home m January, and asked her if she would take m a girl and her child. Cooper mentioned, m an off-hand way, that it wasn't a question of money, but of convenience for a fortnight or so, when it was expected they would get the child adopted. In reply to qUes-' tions, Cooper said the was at a boarding-house, and he was acting for the child's father, whose " name was McDonald. She asked why, if the girl was comfortable, they didn't permit her to remain at the boarding house, seeing that the period prior to adoption was such a short time. The matron told him, further, that they didn't take cases of that kind, as they hadn't sufficient room for girls m trouble. Cooper then remarked that the police were hunting the girl, and she had been informed that she would have to get work or go into a home. The mothered damsel had no friends m Wellington, and the father of the kid had been compelled to place her m rooms. The matron said she felt sorry for the girl, and she asked Cooper if he was willing to contribute £2 a week, the same as was ibeing paid at the boarding house, towards the support of the dishonored girl and the child. (The Harmy doesn't open its mouth very wide.) He agreed and said a week would be paid m advance. The matron consented to take the child that, riiffht '( J'&nuury 11), and it arrived with its mother between seven and eight o'clock. The girl was accompanied by Cooper and the defendant Breen. who was introduced undor the name of "Mr Sinclair." Breen took two sovereigns from his fob and handed them to Cooper, who transferred them to the matron's ready paw, and Cooper remarked, "That is a week m advance, or words to that effect. The girl and her squalling trophy of wickedness then commenced her long residence m the home, which she didn't leave until November 5, and the Harmy was victimised for her keep. as they didn't receive another solitary sprat from Cooper or Breen. Cooper called several times and assured the matron that- the balance of the money was all ri<*ht and everything would be fixed up. Breen also called and asked if Cooper had made the ! next? payment. She replied "No." Then Breen said it was strange, as McDonald, FATHER OF THE ILLEGITIMATE, had given the money to Cooper to settle up. Cooper was made to appear a very dishonest person indeed The matron wanted to know why th« much-absent McDonald didn't come to

the home and transact his own Mz.. and Breen said Mac was naturally shy on the subject of his unauthorised offspring, and didn't like to com* up on account of the publicity. The matron then said she was willing to "dress m private" and meet McDonald at any spot that Breen might select. The matron is sufficiently elderly to dispose of any doubt about the j propriety of such a proceeding. Breen ' then agreed to come for the matron (who would be "dressed m private") on a certain night, and * take her down to the bottom of the street, where she would meet the timid McDonald. The lady agreed to this, but Breen failed to keep the appointment, and she hadn't seen him since. Breen had remarked that the mysterious McDonald was m a very good position, and his people lived at OamarUi but Mac was employed on a boat, which accounted for his remarkable scarcity. The matron told Cooper that when the child was adopted he would have to get it an outfit, costing £5, as it really hann't any things to speak of, and Cooper promised to fetch along the cash on the following Monday. On thai; fatal day, however, he arrived without the spondulix, and explained that the singular McDonald was still away, while Breen 'remarked, reassuringly, that IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT. The girl left the home oh November 5, and Breen had been adjudged putative father of the troublesome infant. Mr Wilford : You left the home m July ?— Yes ; 1 was summoned to Christchurch, and returned m September. Who are the trustees of the Home ? — I do not know. The Salvation Army Home is leased, is it not ; who is the owner ? —I don't know the owner ; it is leased by the Army from the agent, Mr Duncan. Why are 'you suing m this case ?— Because the transaction was . with me. Mr Wilford : I ask for a non-suit, your Worship. Gounsel submitted that Shackleton was- not a trustee of the Home, and she had no power 'of attorney. Mr Dunn contended -that she, as Matron, was m charge of the home, and any moneys she received were applied to the management of the home. Mr Wilford said then the officer of a lodge might sue. Mr Dunn : Not at all. Magistrate Riddell did not think the plaint was a proper one, and it was only a cmestiori Of whether the claim should be amended to permit of the right parties being joined, or of entering; up a nonsuit. After further argument his Worihip non-suited the matron, and ordered her to pay costs amounting to £3 15s.