A CHAMELEOM CHILD

NZ Truth, Issue 847, 18 February 1922, Page 8

A CHAMELEOM CHILD

WHITE WOMEN AND INDIAN CONSORTS

Extraordinary Perth Case

COURT CONCLUDES CHILD'S COLOR ESTABLISHES PATERNIT V

There was a very stormy hearing of ah 1 , extraordinary case at the Children's Cojurt m Perth (W.A.), a fortnight ago. If- ever a lawyer earned his appearance fee, it was Mr. Charlie Greif, when he represented Ran Singh, a Sikh, who pleaded not guilty to a charge that he wa ; s the father of an illegitimate child.

The. case was first called on the previous Friday, when the complainant, a small, thin, young: worrian,. laid the charge. , Her expression' and demeanor was ' one of sad wretchedness and woe. Ilugged to her breast was a dusky nipper. The case was remanded "till the following Wednesday, ib,ut . when Maudie (the complainant) appeared on*, that day, the child- "was stated to have experienced, a

TRANSFORMATION IN COMPLEXION. -

The accused excitedly drew attention to this, and declared that Maiidie had/ deliberately, with malice . aforethought,, greased, streaked^ or painted \ tho child dark on the first day of the hearing for the express . purpose of "making it look like him," but that,' afraid l)er act might be discovered, she had*washed the child and brought it..alorig m its natural color. Maiidie emphatically denied the truth of Ran's „ assertion, but the affair caused a scene later on. . -7* -'•••. . ;, In company with the complainant was her. sister "Micky." Both women had, babies, and both pushed perambu- . lafors. . As Ran Singh left the court on the first day, they posed themselves one on each side of the lane leading out to /Hay -street, and threatened to enact all, sorts, of horrible ' things upon the accused before allowing him to pass. "As God is my witness, I'll lynch you! You dirty black scoundrel! I'll kill you, you murky dog, before you're much older. You filthy wretch! You liar! Just like' all. your kind— denying you are the father bf the kid. You dirty black, liar! I'll teach you to string off lie's like that," were spine of the utterances, shrieked iri' a defiant tone, which attracted all passers by. . . Finally .Constable Bannear, who happehed to be ?»t the ''court on other

business, and woman constable Dugdale found it necessai'y to interfere ar/d order the women to hold their pekce. ; But remonstrance was of ho aykil.j : When at last the trembling Rah; accompanied by his lawyer, passellout bf the lane and up the street, thß . two • . '

1-WPMEN RACED AFTER HIM, propelling ' their perambulators up Hay-street towards the Town Hall, yelling but all manner' of threats. In the end, Ran Singh dodged down Bar-rabk-street' and into the Terrace, stopping at intervals -to cast furtive and apprehensive glances behind, him. But 4 Maudie and Micky had given up the chose, evidently bottling up their ire for. a more opportune occasion. Mr.Lovekin, together (with Mrs. . Casson were on the Bench, while Mr. T^rsyth (maintenance officer) conducted tho proceedings. The complainant ,w , as JL rot represented by counsel, but Mr. Greif appeared on behalf of the accused, arid pleaded not guilty to the -charge of parentage. . The complainant stated that all along Ran Singh had owned up that

•he was the father of her child, but suddenly, for some unknown reason, he denied it, and said he would fight it out. 7 She 'then laid a complaint against "him, changing him with parentage. When she asked -him what he was going to do'alpout it) he replied, "I know lam the^ father of it," and also promised to marry her and keep both of them. She had had several letters from him, but '-.vt'Hey' were not m his handwriting - because . he pbhld not write English. • •■' fc>6metimes v " he got European friends to write 'his letters for hini, .while On other occasions, he made notes m Sikh language. When he sent her the ; letters, he ' was ' up at Burracoppip on -his own., When she asked him aboUtVthe promise he had made to • many 'her, he said 'he would "fix It up," and promised to

".',.. SPRUCE;;HttiSELF UP to ..make himself pobk] like a. respectable white m'a'n-^cut;"-,bff his beard, shave his whiskers arid;,: discard" his turban, i etc. He alSo ;iSr.pmlsed todress like a ! white man and ,wear a hat. When ' speaking .bf..the7Ri)pposed. marriage. "In . their own style,'" ' he7suddehly went' up to "her sister, took 'off the wedding ring on her ; hand, .iandv placed ' it : on complainant's, remarking, "There, I marry •you. . It my'Vchild. I^keep;- you proper.'; o _ 7 -*-7 7 7-7"' *<■/'■ -7 .••> ' /WJi.ehl they were .making, /arrange -. ments for'the. marriage, she cautlousljr referred , to- "his n*,is'sus" m India, and asked, "What you going to do about her?" When he -.replied savagely, " "my missus m India." He had told her before that he had a Sikh iwife m India, but never -spoke of her much. Their marital la-ws. were, all different to the white man's laws. Mr. < -Greif then :. "began what proved to be one of the most breezy crossexaminations ■ m -his experience. Your sister, is living with Tolsee?-^-Yes-. • -, .•.',?''..■. '....':''' .•' '■'• • f They are not married?— They are— m their Own why.'*'-; She 'lives with. him. as his wife?— • Yes, just, the, samevas that over there (pointing to* the. accused-) did with me, only her rhusband-i' doesn't deny his children iwhen they, are bprn. Ran Singh is supposed to have rob- > bed .Tolsee . of £400 Isn't he?— (No answer). : Tolsee is yottr sister's husband, for the time being?—^He's her proper husband; so ■you "needn't 'go throwing any dirt. -:' „ ■■:•••-, .' . -.- ' Who <were you living with At-Gebrge- : street ?^-Nobody..; .- ■' What about, an Afghan named Khan Doo?— Oh, yes, I'was ' .LIVING WITH HIM for a while. - As his wife?— Put it that way if iyou like. I'm not < the one to deny the truth, but that w.as a long while ago. Didn't the women police take you away from plm and send you to the Home of Good Shepherd? — I (beg your pardon! They -did. nothing of the sort. Well, how did you come to get into the Home? — I went there of my awn accord. — ■ What for?— Nothing. Naturally, we..believe that. Had you been - there before?— Yes. Who put you there?— My stepmother. • How many children:' did you have to Khan Doo? — None.

You have another illegitimate child? — I have.

Who is the father of it?— A (white man.

You lived with him?— l'm not going to answer' any of

YOUR DIRTY QUESTIONS, .'

so you can- keep them to yourself.

Whex'e did you go after you came out of the Home? — To my sister.

Did you stay home all day?— -No. Go out?— l r es., And stay home at night ?- 1 -Yes. Do you know Josle Villa? — Yes. You know it is a brothel?— Yes. You live next door? — No, j live near Myrtle Grove.

Ever been inside Myrtle Grove? — Yes. '„"-,.,

What for? — I used to work, there. What did you go to Rose-street for? —To be laid up with my baby.

: Do you k'how an Afghan named Chin Koo? — Yes,' he came to see Mrs. Tolsee.

Had anything to do with you? — That's right, bring up all the dirt that thing there tells you. , .'.•-..

Did Chin Koo ever give - you any pi'esents ?— -No.

What about a pair of boots? — -Yes, he said one day he would leave something for the baby. '- ; • : . ■ '

And ihe left you: a pair of shoes? — Yes, but they are home now. I don't wear, them-. Anyway, he gave them to Tolsee, riot me.

What, happened to the baby today? — Nothing that I know of. :

Hasn't it suddenly changed color. ?— What do you mean ? , • .

, Just, what I say. When' you had the child here the last time it was distinctly black?— lt ihas . always been dusky.

Yes, but what I mean is this. Compared with , the other "day, .the. baby is white. . Will you deny, that when you' brought it here ..before you. did not grease it or smeai',,it ; :over to make it look more of a. chocolate hue?— Good gracious, what a fearful lie v ' - Is -it the same baby? — What ridiculous rpt* you talk..- y ./

..•".- Funny- -thing, -but that's just what the accused says you talk?— lt's '-the same child at any rate, and- 1 defy anyone to prove it is not; and what's' more, it Is the same color to-day as it was before.

It's color has slipped, anyway? — So will that there, trying to make out he is not the father. - ■

'Sometimes it's almbst '/white, and sometimes it's black," persisted counsel. ' '.-'■"..

"IT'S LIKE A LEOPARD ' —changes, its : spots." ,\ ; Mr. Lpyekin (seriously) : Does it really change its color? Complainant: I : really, don't know. I don't take that much notice. Mr. Lovekin: Can i£ possibly be white to-day and black to-morrow ? Counsel: Yes, by artificial persuasion. v, Complainant:,- It is a pity that apology for a man didn't change his spots and 'his. name too. He's a disgrace to his own name— like all ' his kidney. .■ v , , . . ■ : You are, a" thoroughly decent woman? — I was. What's -that mean?— ' Well, I am today what he's made me. You are also a model of virtue? — : Certainly, until he did what he did. An innocent little angel ?— No, by faith! I'm no angel! You deny that you are accepted by all round and all who know you as being a woman of easy virtue ?— Yes, positively.' You would refuse to have anything to do with "friends" if they were to come to you?^-'Certainly. What do you wear that ring all the ,time for.?— Because I. do. Why don't you give it back to 3'our sister? — Because the. accused put it there, and there it is going to stop, and he's got to keep me and the child, because he promised to do, and what's more the child Is his and he; promised to marry me. But now, like, the dirty

low cur that he is, he's ; GONE BACK ON HIS WORD. That's the sort of hound you come I here to. speak fox-, and' try to get him off. Shame on you! Arid you call yourself a white man! Have you finished?— Yes, for the time being. Mr. Greif was about to proceed when the accused, who was sitting immediately behind him, clamored for a hearing, and excitedly articulated m his ear, jambing his mouth hard up. as if using a telephone- After counsel had angrily pointed out to him that he wasn't used to that sort of thing, Singh withdrew about a foot and proceeded with his instructions, but. had . not progressed more than a sentence or two when the complainant yelled lustily, .."Here, you. Don't go whispering things m his ear. Speak up and let's all hear what you've got to say, you dirty black devil. Just like all you black brutes, you're afraid to talk out loud. You go about ■I LIKE A SNAKE IN THE GRASS, whispering here, and. telling lies thei'e." ' . "Youse moinde yer own beezness," retorted Singh, his dusky optics glinting fiercely ! !■• Mi\ Lovekin: Here! Here! Get on with the case ! Mr. Greif: Where wei'e you living when you first knew Tolsee? — In Dudley- sti'eet. Nice kind" of a stx'eet, isn't it — the .x'endezvous of Hindoos, Sikhs, Chows, Indians, prostitutes, and all that ?— No, it is not. You're, thinking of Bar-clay-street. ■ - . . ' i. -

Mi*. Lovekin: with the case !

Any white people live m Dudleystreet ?— Certainly.

. The complainant's sister was then announced as thfe next witness. As • she swept past the accused, she bestowed upon him a, withering glance of scorn, contempt, hate, disgust, aversion, detestation and loathing all' rolled m one. He returned her stax-e bravely for about a quarter of a second, and then became suddenly interested m 'the size; and 'shape of the 'buttons on*' his coat .sleeve. •' Passing bis' him she^sat down. "Get up,", commanded .Mr. Lovekin. Not a move. "Stand up," he repeated. Considering a moment or two she finally recognised the tone as one of authority and decided to obey. After being sworn, the bench remarked, "Now, you can sit .down." "Thank you," she returned, frigidly, and resumed her seat. Urfder examination by Mr. Forsyth, she stated she knew the accused well, and would say for absolute cei'tainty that he was the father of her sister's child. - Witness gave her reasons at soihe lenp-th. ) After taking the witness over some unimportant although importarit legally, because they were calculated to establish dates, Mr. Forsyth continued: Has Singh ever, written to your sister ? — Oh. yes ; ■ . , LOTS OF LETTERS and telegx'ams. . \ . Is . this his writing . (producing , a small bundle) ?— Yes. Mr. Lovekin: How do you know. Have you seen his writing? — Well, no; I haven't, but I know that he has got a white friend of his up the bush to,' write some letters for- him. I have never seen his own handwriting because he can't wx-ite English. Mx*. Greif: Can you read it m Afghan ?— rDon't you class me as a |Gh'an! Nunno. I'm nothing m that line. I'm a Sikh's wife — that's far from being the. wife of ari Afghan. The Ghans don't like the English, hone of them, but the Sikhs ax*e on the British side.

Did I hear you. say you are a married woman ? — I am. •*• '

' Not m reality ? — I am, according to the Sikh marriage laws. ,We ■'. have been properly -married according to his religion. '

Why not be married m the English fashion, you being English ? — tt iis not necessary.

A kind of free love religion, is it ? — Yes. from their point of view.

Did you ever wi'ite to the accused while- he was up the country ? — No.

Think again ?— No,; never. What about this (producing threepage letter) ?— Oh, yea; I. remember that now. I told hiriti'tb' sell his damn goods and buy a farm. I gave him a bit •.: -.' OF MY MIND STRAIGHT , fi'ofn the shoulder. ' ; Is this your writing ?— Yes. Well, listen to the lettei'iand see if you recognise the manner of it. Counsel: then read,' slowly and deliberately: "Dear Fred, — I am writing you a few lines to ask you to tx-y and be a man. Keep your word. Remember*; you are just as bad now as ever you were, or even wox'se. You told Maud you would not send Tolsee one penny. Why don't you be a man and not a rook. Tolsee doesn't know I'm writing you. this. Micky Is doing it off her 'own bat." Who is "Micky" ?— That's me ! And who's Maude ?p— My. sister. "If you don't be "a man and keep your word, 'Micky* will not have anything to do with- you." "Micky" won't— that's: you ? — Yes — me.

"Remember, we have been good friends to you. , Why don't you help Tolsee out of debt arid NOT BE SUCH' A LIAR. You said you gave Maud £3 when you went back \ta the bush; 'It' Is no good your telling such a lot of lies, because every thing comes out m the. end. Mr. Watson! of the State Children's Department, said as you are .the- father of the child, you will have to pay 12s 6d per weelo for its support. Remember, Fred Ellen 'turned out a rotten egg. We don't want you to turn out a x-Otten egg as well, you know. . We want you to.be a man. — Yours, Micky."" "■-.' '-' ■• 7 Evidently afraid he was goingT tb~ get another wife' up the bush, eh?— We didn't care if he did, but we were determined to makd. him pay for his own child, and' not leave all the trouble, .to, us. „. '• •-.. • .:■■' .'■ , ... ■■•■

; Counsel,-. also produced 'another'letter, m which the witness said, r "It's no use grumbling and gx-owling because 3'ou've . had to work two years for nothing. What about little Maudle and Micky. We've worked 16 years for nothing. If you don't be a man and keep fi'iends with us„ Maud is going to get another little -house, and we '..-.■. " ■. •.

WON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO

with you— that is, unless you turn out a man."

Counsel: That reveals a nice- state of affairs, doesn't , it?— Wiiat dyer reckon that reveals ?'.' ... v':

: It's as simple as. A.B.C.V to read between the.' lines of ;, that. Show's what sort bf a life you were leading — little Maudie arid Micky going to get an- ; other little house.and not have anything to do "with 7him.. And yet you ask the Court to believe you are not common prostitutes ? — Don't call us common prostitutes. You -.have practically called' yourself so m that letter .? — You're a liar. A rank liar ,! ■•■,''" -'• ' • ./'; ' >'• ': Don't call me a liar.!. -.T'tist >moderate your language ?— All -right, then; don't you insinuate "that We- are •prostitutes) How many men has your sister lived with ? — Only the accused. Hasn't she lived with various Hindoos and Indians ?-VNever. "Except that time when I ; " m.- . t.errupted the 'complainant, 'but was •prevented by counsel from finishing the prompt. "You'll.' just keep quiet," said Mr. Greif, "or else you'll be put outside." , ;''■'.- --"I am .keeping -quiet," replied 'the woman, . "quieter than you. ' anyhow." "Well, except' that time when she lived, with Khaii Doo," went on the witness, divining her sister's, remindei\ "But I don't think she lived with • him ' i ; . ?' MORE THAN THREE WEEKS at the outside." : "It was . a bit over that. It wwar-"s — r-" j began "the complainant again.

Mr. Greif (addressing the Bench) : This woman will have to go outside unless she keeps quiet. This is monstrous, to allow such things, even m this Court.

Witness: • You ' leave her. alone. She's doing all right; she's only sticking up for herself, and she's entitled to do that, surely.

Mr. Lovekin : Yes, m a proper way,' though. Just both of you keep quiet, and you'll get an opportunity to say all you want to say.

Counsel: Didn't you have to take her away from. Khan Doo? — Yes. -.-■•

, Then she went to the Home of the Good Shepherd- ?— Yes; of her own accord.

You say she went there of her own accord ? — Yes, she did.

What for?— To get away from Khan Doo.

"It's zee beeg lie!" chipped m the accused, prompting counsel In a loud whisper.

"Here, you;, cut that ,out," said the witness. "If my sister who has . to suffer through you and your dirty lies is not allowed' to prompt, me, then you can't prompt your lawyer, so there, you dirty, black, lying* devil !" Mr. Greif: I am representing the accused, and you' could have been represented, too, if you wanted to.— Yes, I can see you are. representing him, and you are getting well paid for it. He's got the money, all right. He has about £400 tied up m the tail of his shirt or down m his boots, I'll warrant.

, Mr. Greif (now resigned to ragtime methods): Do you know Chin Koo ?— -Y'es.

Well ?—No; Don't get slinging any more dirt, now !

Did he evex ; give Maud any presents ? — Certainly not. , What, nothing at all ? — No. He left six. yards of dress material and a pair bf shoes with my husband. - Where's the' shoes how ? — At home. I. wear them.

Mi. Lovekin: Apparently these two women have everything m common — shoes, rings, etcv-.v '..-

Courisel: Seems to .hie it is a pretty coirimori atmosphere altogether. Witness: None of your Hippertyflupp. You know very well he's the father of this child. If I was to he struck dead this minute I swear he is. What's more, my sister . knows very well' he's the father. It couldn't be anyone else; "Come on, you dirty swarthy scoundrel- Own up and be a man,"; she went on, addressing the accused,' who muttered incoherently, the while. "Be a man arid not the

LOW 'DOWN BLACK DEVIL

that you are. Own up the kid's' yours, and I'll think more of you." , . Mr. Greif: Now about the color of this • baby. It is white to-day. ' Last Friday, it was blaclt ?— So is it's father black — quite natux-al, ain't it ?

But *• how do you account for its changing its color so sudden like ? — Simple! My old man's as black as the ace of spades some days, but on others, he's a fair white man.

Mrs. Casson : How do you account for* that ?— I, think it has got something to do with some sort, of a change m his blood. They're all the same ; Mr. Greif: But last Friday; if was too dark to;be natux ; al. Quite sure its complexion wasn't a removable one ? —Certainly not, the poor little thing is always dark, and always wiil be on account of its father.

At this stage, counsel quoted a further passage from one v of! the letters written by the witness to the accused. It ran, "There are many good men who have not been caught." Now what did you mean by that ? — What it says. Certainly there are ' many good men who have not been caught, but they're

- BLOOMIN' HARD T.O FIND these days. If my sister can get a better man than him, good luck to her, and bad luck to him. But he's got to keep his child whichever happens.

Bit of a. mystery, this letter! Something funny behind it all!— Nothing of

the kind! It's just your evil mind. ' Final quote :" "Maud is still .going strong." — (No answer). Didn't you have a young Indian over at<; your place who threatened you ? — Certainly not. . We}l,. you threatened to shoot him? —I've' got nothing to say about that. My solicitor knows all about it.'

This concluded the case for the complainant, whei'eupon Mr. Gx-eif sought" to prove-, that .there was no ; case' to answer, he having proved that j the complainant was akin toa common prostitute. When counsel once more used the phrase "common prostitute," both women mocked him derisively, and it was some moments before the disorder was quelled. After listening to counsel's contention, Mr. Lovekin pointed out . that there had been sufficient corroboration'" m a- material particular of the allegation that the accused was the father. It would therefore be necessary for the' defence to be given, for it had . :*• NOT YET- BEEN SHOWN -7 to the satisfaction", bf "' the Bench that, the complainant lived m prostitution., Counsel then asked leave to con- 1 ' thvue " cross-examining Mrs. Tolsee,.' which 'was. granted.. You' know 'j'ou'r; sister was working 1 m -Myrtle Grove?— Yes. -,'7.7 What "sort of a place is that ? — You7 ought to "know. ' •>. '■*: Noi I do not ?— Ah, gam ! 'Course' you don't. c ' '"' I want you to tell moi ? — Well, J it's a' — cx I , .ladies' house. And on the other side of your placed is another ladies' house ? — Yes. -'•••-£ Qivef , me the names of all . the men]' who -visited Melbourne-road when y oil" ; lived there ? — What All the names*?-. Yes ?— Good gracious. . All .the ; names ! Have a heart ! How do yo,u expect, me to- tell.. you-: that ! Think-Iv keep a post office directory.- Give us 1 a chance. What ! Are they too many, to mention ? — No, certainly not, but I can't remember them now. •-,-..• , •> Then there were others besides the accused, Khan Doo, and Chin Koo ?— S Of course. ' ' f Went there to see Micky and Maudie ? — Don't be mad! They were, FRIENDS OF MY HUSBAND. \ How many '''friends" 'have you got ? — Nonet. ....*■-. y ' Do you both stop home all night ? — Yes. : Wihat fox* ?— Nothing,-, except .. we don't like. going home at night along Roe-street. ■. \ ,-- / The ladies on either side of. you don't go out at night, either, do they? —No, but . they haven't got little babies like us. ! • Tolsee Ran, who swore* . to •- tell the truth by kissing- a glass of water, said he was a night watchman. The . witness, during his evidence, explained that he knew the accused was the' father of Maudie's child; because HE. OFTEN ADMITTED IT, but a few days ago he suddenly said he' would deny it. Witness often heard him say "Child mine. Me keep it." and/, even after its birth the saw him give Maud money . for its support.

Mr*. Greif: You are not good friends with the accused ?— No; he owes me nearly £400.

You also gave Maud,ie money ? — Yes. .■•'.' ■

Because you are so very friendly with her? — No, because he wouldn't.

Is Mrs. Tolsee 1 your wife — known to the Court as "Micky" ?— Yes.

Aren't you afraid of her ?— No. Doesn't she knock you about ? — I keep her — that's all.

Know anything about presents'? — No.,

Didn't Chin Koo give Maud some ? — Not that I know of.

Who else have you got at Roe-street now? — Another, woman.

Young or old ?— -Old. . / What is she doing there ?— Just staying there and working.

Is she a common prostitute, too ?— -

\ Whether the witness replied to thli question or not it wart impossible to tell, for Maudie and Micky ; CREATED A FRESH DISTURBANCE, violently protesting against counsel's repeated *■ reference to "common pros 5 titutes." The two women were OSa dered to desist, but refused Hint] blank, and When they began to aiiS"' Mx\ Greif, the Bench finally ordfeedj that they must be ejected, which m-| struction was cax-ried out to the BH companiment of shrieks of defiajicei and threats. ' , . i On his defence, Ran Singh, who i-as described, as a hawker and who re J sides at East Perth, absolutely denied that he was the father of the child m question, or that he had anything .to do with its existence. He declared that Maudie was a woman' of ''fame," and he knew for a cert that- Kinner Singh, N'Kan .Singh, Koopher Singh. Keeper Singh, and others visited her at various times and gave her rhoney. The child m Court is not youx*s ?— Certainly not.

Why ?— Because it's not mine at all. The .first day they come here they paint it black — make it look like mine. Mrs. Tolsee, she no like you ?— $ T o. What she - say ? — lf me come out, she kill me. • ■'

Kill you how ?— Like this (with.-., a sweeping of the finger across his throat).

How long she live m Roe-street ? — ■ About year. . You iiever 'been there ?— No; she ..come to Melbourne-road to me and ..-.Tolsee. . ' * ' ' . You see Chin Koo give Maiidie pre- 1 , sents? — Yes, she said he was her pro-' per friend. . " -:-.' , \" What for?-^Because Tolsee and his iMicky— they- make it that -way. ,;.,;. Yons have a son long time ago?— .Yes, Hiirri killed at the war. 7; . This concluded the defence, and Mr.Greif endeavored to impress the Bench with his opinion that. the complainant was a common prostitute. He also pointed-out -that it was next to ifnpossible/tb identify a child born of;, a Hindoo " father. They were all 'so much alike. They wer-e like all the Sikhs arid Chinese — as much alike as twin peas m a pod. Of course, both' women swo/re positively 'that (Ran Singh was the father of the comj plainant's child, but then they wei^ the sort of women who would sweaH away a man's liberty, and his life, "fl

such was essential to the gaining -o] their ends. Complainant had giyei birth to an illegitimate child and tiaj been m the Home of the Good Shenj herd, where no decent woman was e*l er sent: : She also ; admitted havim lived with Khaiv 3300. ' It was an ex ceedingly risky and- --un justified, thiit^ he contended, to fetter the accuse' with the support of soxnebody elsfe": child for the next 14 years. At ah; rate, he argued, lit had been provei that vax'ious riren had had an interes m the birth of the child, and that* th woman could- not "* swear positively without committing pex'jury y that th< accused was the rightful father.- -.-

The Bench held that there was ha proof of the defence that the cofn-l plainant was a common prostitute, oil that other, men had had. an interest m the birth of the child. On the other hand, they considered thex'e was siif.ficient corx'obox*ation m >a material particular to justify a conclusion that Ran Singh was the! legitimate father and an order would therefore.be made' against him to pay 12s 6d per we.ek for its support. ' fc

Before leaving the Court, Mr. Grei mentioned that he could produce police evidence. and also call Mrs. Dugdale to show the character of the complainant, and asked^ that if, at some future date, he found certain things to be true, could he produce further evidence before the Court, m the way of a rehearing, which th« Bench agreed to. i ?- I

•.Man's needs are manifold, but it Ii wonderful what he can do wiu.out.