A RANGITIKEI MONSTROSITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 696, 15 May 1879, Page 2

A RANGITIKEI MONSTROSITY

The Manawatw Times narrates the following astounding case : — A woman, named Rosanna Bond, living at Bulls, on Wednesday applied to Mr. Ward R.M. at Foxton, for a protection order, and to have the custody of her two children— one a baby aged twenty-two years ; the second being ten. In support of so singular an application, and in explanation Of the somewhat paradoxical appellation of " baby beßtowed upon an adult of twenty-two, it was b worn in evidence that the ' child' had never, from the time of birth, increased one inch in stature, or an iota in maturity. .Notwithstanding the numbers of years which had passed over the head of the sought-for-ward, it appeared that it had to be carried about in the arms, can neither speak or recognise anyone, and required to be spoon-fed, like a newlyborn baby. During the hearing of the case it transpired that while neither bodily nor mental development had occurred, the usual facial change in conformity with the number of years had taken place, so that to the beholder there appeared a woman's head upon an infant's body. This child is the third pi "bond" and pledge between Edward * and Rosina, and is 22 years old. She is an absolute infant in everything but age. Her size is that of a babe about 6 months old ; the hair, which is dark, might belong to a child of three years ; the mouth expresses a considerable age, and lines are gradually showing themselves upon the countenance. The expression of the features is said to be repulsive and idiotic, suggesting in a marked degree that the child is in every way a monstrosity. The father and mother of the ohild had lived very unhappily, and, being separated, the latter wished to have the custody of the charge, of whom she seemed particularly fond. Under the circumstance the Court made an order that she should have custody during the life-time of the child, which, it considered, would also probably embrace its infancy.