SUPREME COURT.
CRIMINAL SITTING. . , Tbesdav, September 8. (Before his Honor Air Justice Williams.)
ABANDONING AN INFANT. Margaret Saunders, convicted in tho lower court of abandoning her infant child, w«9 brought up for sentence.
Air J. F. ST. 'l-Vaser (Crown prosecutor) appeared for the police, mid Mr A. C. Hanlou tor tho prisoner.
In reply to the sheriff, the prisoner gave her age as 22 years.
Mr Ban lon 1 said that the case was one in which the girl, to hide her shame, had left home, telling her father that she was going to a situation. She went into a home, where tho child was born, and, fearing that her impropriety would be discovered by her father, when sho left the lipme sho evidently decided to leave the child on the doorstep of the house where it wa3 found. The girl had hitfrei'to borno a good character, and her father was a respcctablo man in constant employment. He proposed to ask if tho court could 6ee its Say to make an order that tho girl should find a surety for her future good behaviour, and, failing that, to ccnie up for sentenoe when callcd on. Learned counsel understood that the probation officer's report was favourable, but 110 thought that in view of the peculiar circumstances it was better that the girl should not even seo.tho inside of the gaol if any other means of dealing with her could bo found.
, The Crown Prosecutor said that the police had nothing to soy against tho girl, and ho had made inquiries personally into the cade. The girl's father was prepared to take her home, and'also to take the child. Ensign Proctor, of ot the Salvation Army, also gave the girl a good character,' and sho appeared to bo fond ol the infant.
His Honor said: I think that probably tho course suggested by Mr Hnnlon would be tho better one. The report of the probation officer is satisfactory, ar.d there are a number of testimonials hero showing that her character has been good. The circumstances of the exposure I think also justify'the application of the act in tho present case. If it hod been an exposure of such a kind that injury to tho child was likely to havo followed it would have been a different matter. She seems to have taken all tho steps she could for tho care of tho child consistently with exposing it. I think the case would probably bo better dealt with by allowing her to come up for sentence when called upon. I do not think it is a. case whero she should bo sent to gaol or that it is necessary to havo sureties for good hchaviouv. ■ Mr Hanlon suggested that tho girl's father should enter into a bond for the sum of £23 that the girl would come up for sentence when called upon.
His, Honor assented, and discharged tho accused, making an order as suggested.
IN CHAMBERS. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Williams.) Re John Douglas (deceased).—Motion for .probate (Mr Payne).—Accordingly.
SUPREME COURT.
Otago Daily Times, Issue 12763, 9 September 1903, Page 7
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in