RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Colonist, Volume XXXII, Issue 5420, 16 February 1889, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAY

(Before A. Tubnbult;, Esq., R.M.)

John Simpson was charged, on the information of Catherine Akersten, with having unlawfully taken possession of Margt. Simpeon, a girl nnder the age of 16 years, against the will of her aunt, the informant Catherine Akersten.

Mr Pitt appeared for the defence.

Catherine Akersten, sworn, deposed : I am a married woman living in Nelson. The girl Margaret S'mpson is my niece, and is 11 years 9 months old. She is the daughter of a sister of mine who is dead, and had for the last two years been underjmy authority. The child used to live with her grandmother at Grej mouth, but some two years ago she! wrote me a letter sayinfe that as ,1 was her mother's sister I was the proper person to have charge of her I replied to that to the effect that I was both willing and able to keep her, I sent Margaret Simpson with this letter to Buew hex relatives the Simpson's, This was to shew that I had been asked to keep her. All her relations agreed for me to keep her except Mr Simpson, who when hu saw the child, took possession of her, and took har to Mrs Baylies's house. I went immediately to Mr AtcheiQQ about it. He seat Mr Nash with me to Mrs Bayliss'a house to take the child, but they refused to give her up. I told Mr AtcbesoD, and he told me if I saw her anywhere to take her. I did not eea her that day. the same night Mr Simpson removed her to his mother's house, and his •ister, Mrs Hunter, went with ms to the house where tns child was, and I took n .- away. The child consented, and all L.n u-.;i lives who were there. I went next day to Inspector Atcheson, an* he told me to keep the child, and he would warn Mr Simpson not 10 interfere with her. She lived with me until the end of the year, and attended school regularly. I misted her about 9 o'clock on Saturday evening last. I had been in ths country since the Tuesday previous. I have never sci'n her sinca.

By Mr Pitt : Ido not knb'w whether Mr Simpson took her away. 'JLbe child's father ] is alive so far as'l know. I have heard hn is , in Wellington. Tbe child wa« sent over to i him some years ago, and he put her out to different women to . take charge of. Mr Simpson (the defendant) has been to my house, but not about the child. The child went to school until tbe end of the year. She had ouly light hou3ehold work. It she went lale to sohool in tbe afternoon, it was her own fault. I havo kept her as clean aB I could. I never heard of her bsing sent out of school for b>-iag dirty. I havpnsver ill.used iho.child. I have boxed her ears whenever I thought it necessary. I hit her on the head with a pair of scissors, and made her head bleed. Ido not remembrr banging her head against the wall, She went to Mrs Scott's school, and was not getting on well there. Sue told me she did notltke the teaciier. She did i-ot ask me to letter go back to the sohool. I thi&k the handwriting produced is that of the cliild.

Illixabath Abersten dejiosed: I reside with the last witness, and have don>) so since last pecembev. I left home last Saturday evening at, 8-30, and returned at 9*20, and found the girl had hit. I made enquiries of the neighbors uud could hear nothing of her. Her aunt concluded bha huci gone up tho "counti y, I caw the defendant'! wife whuu I went to hi» hou&o, who told me that tho child was at Mrs Hunter's. I wont there, anil Mrs Hunter said chti was not tbero. I afu-rwar<J(u;aw thoohilcl, who refusod to cumo back. ">.

'Ibm o'osed the aam for the prosecution. Mv l'iit contended (hat thei* wuu abaolutuly U9 caao, but he wished to atate that the child had run awuy, and bad conn< to Mr Birnpson't house on the Saturday night, while Mrs Akorsteu waa "out. She wa« in a very dirty state. Mi's Hunter uud Mr Biuapion wuro both williviß to give tho child a houiu. He contended that Mrs Aktrottn hud no movn right to tho custody of the child than Mta Hunter tir Mr Himpson. Tha da/endant Jind not taken the child away, or interfered with hor in any way. Htyyouid n»k hiu Worship to(]i»iui»t) tiie cam*, tiH Uiui* wa» abiohuoly no mUknaa to connect the defendant with the muilk in any way. . Bio Worwiiip naked whore the cbild'u father wan? Mr Wluipflou Hftid at PatoMO, W*llU)gton.

Miv Wonhip' naji, ha ultuuld mnk» no orrttr, but if Un Hantur would ikka ohi^n of hor that would bo the boat *rrai>g6)m*Ht' •In would »ufjKo*S that tlio faih(?r be oomiHii' mmutl with. '£h& oauu a^ainiit Mr gifapnmi would h§ tli«mNf««l.

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