A DISGRACEFUL SCANDAL IN MELBOURNE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7979, 24 September 1887, Page 3

A DISGRACEFUL SCANDAL IN MELBOURNE.

One of the crudest and most scandalous cases of betrayal and desertion that has ever been exposed in Maryborough, Victoria, was lately brought under the notice o£ the Carisbrook Bench. The sad and sinful story connected with the case may be briefly told as follows : — There lived in Timor a family named Lynch, whose only daughter contracted an intimacy with a youth named James, who was aleo reared in tbe place. Assuring her by a promise of marriage, ho eventually effected her seduction, and when this was accomplished gradually deserted her. A child was born, and an illness followed, necessitating the poor girl's treatment in the local hospital, whore she died only a day alter her betrayer bad spoused unother. He went to live at Carisbrook, taking a cottage witbin a few doorß of one occupied by Mrs. Taylor, an aunt of the victim. The Taylors naturally enough have remembered keenly his treatment of their relative, and have lost no opportunity in manifesting their regard for him. This ultimately Jed to a quarrel, which brought tho whola story before the Police Court. It appeared from tbe evidence that Jucrn-« and his wi'e were passing Tay lot's a few .■; einco, whe*i ibe latter remarked, "id i,w hearing of Mifss Taylor, " 'i'hese people are a sneaking lot," lo whitli the indignant girl Tetorted, " Come and look at the murderer." James then lushed at her, and, seizing her- by the throat, swore, "By — — , I'll murder you too," and knocked her about considerably faeiore her mntjw arrived to her weist*

ance. The girl sued him fer assault, for which offence he was fined 405., with £2 23. costs ; in default, seven dayB 1 imprisonment. He was also bound over to keep the peace. A counter charge, bronght by James against Miss Taylor for insulting words, was summarily dismissed. After cross-examination, James made an admission of his promise of marriage given to the unfortunate girl Lynch, and her seduction by him. These admissions were only made, however, after repeated denials to the contrary, and when hiß own lettera to his victim were produced and read in Court. The mother of the girl Lynch, who has charge of the illegitimate child, intends prosecuting James for its maintenance.