"I WANT MY CHILD."

NZ Truth, Issue 327, 30 September 1911, Page 7

"I WANT MY CHILD."

WOMAN'S PATHETIC APPEAL.

Noiihng Else To Live For.

A pathetic story was heard m the Auckland Police Court last week, when a young and respectable-look-ing woman, answering to t'be name of Margaret Bales, was called upon to show cause why she should not give up the custody of her five year old child, Pauline Bales, m order that the child should be placed m a children's home. The complainant m the case was one Harry Halley, a young arid powerfully-built colored man, who is a well-known figure m | LOCAL BOXING CIRCLES. Halley lived with Mrs Bales for some years, and there were two children, a boy and a girl. The boy is m the complainant's care, and the present application .was made m respect of the girl, who was living with the mother. There was no evidence ,of. neglect on the part of. Mrs Bales, but the putative father was not satisfied that she was a proper person to have charge of the child, alleging j that the ; defendant had to some extent acquired a^- liking for liquor, v ■ . Mrs Bales, m felling her sad story, said, m answer to her counsel, Lawyer C. JS. M.atthews,"Yes, it's true that I took poison oii May 15, because . I saw .Harry (the complainant) walking out with another, woman. I'm very fond of the child for I've ' ' NOTHING ELSE TO LIVK FOR— I • . » . ■.■■■■■ lie's got the boy. I've worked hard ; for my girl, cleaning., out offices, and ; I 1 earn on an average £2 per week, j I Last", week I made £2 is. Now, since j ihe turned me out 1 have no hus- i { 'band or anyone to proteptme, . and | jl wa nt my child. I start ait 5:45. m ! the morning and when I conic home I want my child t<o welcome me. If I have to go to work early m the morning and no child to welcome me when I come • back, whalt would I do?" She had given the child "a little drop of brandy" when jit was ill, and sometimes she had ! gone to the picture shows talcing ' the child with her, but did not do so now, as she was too tired after her days work. She had said she | would "go to the dogs" if her child ■was taken away, but she was-study-inrg the child and |, WOULD KEEP RESPECTABLE while it was left with her. ! The magistrate said the custody ; of the child vested naturally m the | mother, and the police had inter- | vened m order that the circumstances ,of the case should be ventilated. It seemed that both the i children, were well cared for, though ; Mrs Bales might hot have treated the little girl wisely. She was fond jof the child, and therefore she shouLd ;n,ot'be taken away. "I will not take the child from you, Mrs Bales, j but only on . one. condition," said .the S.M., "und" that is that you •take out a prohibition order against yourself."

Mrs Bales - promptly agreed to this course, and the application was thereupon dismissed, without costs.