The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-12 00:00:00

VIE PROTECTION OF INFANT LIFE.

To the Editors.

One of the most difficult probl-e-MS-tO solve in the present
day, is how to check the crime of infanticide. lam not
vain enough to suppose that I have discovered the
panacea; but having been engaged for the last fourteen
years in trying to protect the friendless and rescue the
fallen, I feel that I must try with others at least to
init'gate this great monster vice.
First, I recommend that the affiliation of children be a
compulsory act on the part of its mother within three
mouths of its birth, not merely for securing support for
the child, but more especially for the proper registration
of the paternity of the child. The coat of this proceeding
should in the first instance fall on the parish adthorities
in which the child is born, but be afterwards repaid by
the putative father, or in default let him be sent to
prison. Further, that every affiliated child be duly
registered in the surname of ita father.

As the law stands at present, any married man
deserting his children, and leaving them chargeable to
the parish, is liable to be apprehended and oommitted
to priron as a "rogue and a vagabond." A poly this to
the fathers of illegitimate children- The crime is the
same: the Censequences of desertion are similar, and th
obligations to duty are alike in natural right, therefore
let equal offenders be punished by the same penalty.
Any mother of an illegitimate child neglecting to
give notiee to the vestrV clerk of the pariah or registrar
of the district in which the said child is born, within
three calendar months of its birth, should be liable to
fine or imprisonment; or any solicitor preparing or
executing any agreement between the parents of such
children for the care, support, or education of such
child or children, otherwise than as the law prescribes,
should likewise be liable to fine. Now, I am quite
prepared to find that my suggestions are at best but
impracticable when criticised by those better acquainted
with the difficulties of the case than I am; but the
subject is one of the greatest importance to us all, and
one, therefore, in which we should not allow a few
difficulties to daunt UP, but should rather quicken us in
our endeavours to save human life, and so many young
: women from the crime of murder. Depend upon it there
is but one remedy for this crime; and in my judgment,
it is this :—equalize the shame, the care, the trouble,
and EXPENSE of illegitimate children on their FATHERS
las well as their MOTHERS, and you will do very much to
check the crime of infanticide. With the view of
seeking further legislation for the protection of and better
I care of illegitimate children, I propose that a memorial
I upon the subject be presented to the Home Secretary as
early as possible in the next session of Parliament
and that mean% bile an association be formed of all
persons interested, in order to the collection of evidence,
diffusion of information, and exciting the public mind
upon this painfully interesting subject. I shall be glad to
receive suggestions in writing from any part of the
United Kingdom, also to receive the names of persons
desirous of becoming members of this association; and
to work the association with vigour essential to success,
some money will be required; to meet this, I therefore
ask for oontributions of five shillings and upwards. If
at all successful, I will form a special and responsible
committee to carry out the objects of the emaciation ;
and also show, through a treasurer duly appointed, the
receipts and expenditure. My own imperfect service
will be given entirely gratuitously.
I am, your obedient servant,
K W. THOMAS, Sec.
London Female Preventive and
Reformatory Institution.
Office, 200, Easton-road, N.W.