The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-19 00:00:00

CAN A MOTHER CONTROL HER
DAUGHTER?

- -
At the Marylebone police-court, in London, the Marquis
Townshend—w Ito was attended by a middle-aged woman and
a girl of about twelve years of age—appeared before the
sitting magistrate urider the annexed circumstances
The Marquis said: I have to ask your advice in this
case. It has been brought under the notice of the
Society for the Protection of Women and Children, and
to which society I belong. I received this letter from a
City missionary, which sets forth he had his atten-
tion drawn to the girl now present, and whom
he was going—through the illness, and at the
mother's request—to obtain admission into a refuge.
Before that could be accomplished, a Roman
Catholic priest, Father Pike, attached to a Roman
Catholic chapel in the Commercial-road, managed
to get her away from her mother, awl trans.
wit her to a home at this end of the town. From
the time of her being taken away—some months ago—
till now Ler mother had not been able to gain any
tidings of her, or where she was, till a few days ago,
when a girl called upon her, urn rid where the
daughter was. Sae was then torrid Et a Roman
Catholic institution, where her mother went and
claimed her. The institution was in Willianixtreet,
Manchester-square. The mother went there and
claimed her child, and she was given up to her. The
noble Marquis continued and said: This is more peal.-
cularly what lank your advice upon. The git lis now
in attendance before you. She says she will not go
home, and also says she will never go to a Protestant
institution. It is a serii Ms case.
The Ma zistrate : Did they detain her in the place where
she Ilse boost?
Tile Marquis : One; they gave her up en application being
made.
Tire Magistrate Dow did you you get into the Home?
The girt: I used to go to confeSsion to Coldoss my sins.
The Magigrate : When was that?
The girl As often as I could get out.
The tiagistrate When was the first time?
The girl: At the time he came to anoint my mother when
she War imposed to be on the point of death.
The Magistrate : Is there any truth in her statement that
the priest did come to ain,int you?
Toe : There Is,
Tire iingiotrater When was that?
The Mother In November fart, when I thought, and the
neighbours also, that I was dying.
The girl here vehemently exclaimed: I am in the care of
Catholics; 1 am happy, and I will remain where I am.
The mother I should like her to go to re,me school.
The girl (excitedly): I will not go to a Protestant school.
You know you are uot tit to hav: nag
The Magistrate The bed way will be to let the gentle-
man (Mr. Pike) know of this, sal ask it be old attend on
a future day. In the meanwhiie let her be detained in the
wis thous°.
The girl I will not go--(stamping her feet'.— and you shalt
not get me there. I xl,l go into a Catholic home.
The mother You shall not defy me.
The girl impetuously): I Woe% go.
The mother It is the with of some persons to net her
neatest me.
The girl: WorkhOUSe, indeed ! I won't go to any. I will
not to to any Protestant achooL Let ire go to the Catholic
hoes c-1
The magistrate directed her to be taken to the work-
house, there to be detained for a few days till Father
L'ike came to snake explanations.