AN ABANDONED CHILD

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13886, 11 October 1918, Page 6

AN ABANDONED CHILD

TWO WOMEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. THE PARENTS CENSURED. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON. Thursday. At the Magistrate's Court, Fanny Mary Alison McKenzie, aged about 20 years, and Mrs Hilda Martin, about 30 years, were each charged with abandoning an infant at Kilbirnie on Septeml>er 11, and which was found inside the entrance to St. Mary's Convent. The police stated that an advertisement appeared in the middle of August asking some kind person to adopt a baby boy, a premium being offered. Subsequently the girl McKenzie went with a man named Tern, perton to a house in Alx;l Smith street, representing that she was Mrs Temperton, and agreed to adopt the child, the girl receiving a premium of £ls.

The child's father gave evidence that he had decided to get the child adopted because of his wife's continued illness.

The police evidence showed that Mrs McKenzie was a married woman with one child, which was now with her mother at Nelson, her husband being a soldier 6ft active service. Both accused were committed for trial, and Inter the child was committed to a receiving home, the Magistrate remarking that the parents' conduct was callous in the extreme. They were unfitted to have the custody of a child, which in plain language they had sold for £ls. The father was ordered to pay maintenance.