The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-27 00:00:00

CURIOUS CASE OF STEALING A CHILD.

Elizabeth Davis, a respectable young married woman,
residing at King Street, Jerry Hill, was brought before
Mr. Mansfield, yesterday, at the police court, charged
under the 9th [Geo. IV., chap. 31, sec. 21, with
having stolen her own sister, a child named Margaret
Butler, aged nine years. Mr. Bluck appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. M`Donnell (barrister), instructed
by Mr. Daly, solicitor, appeared for the prisoner. Mr.
Bluck said, in this case I appear for the prosecution, on
the part of the mother of the child, and, as the case is
singular, I shall just offer a few short observations on it
to explain the facts. The charge is brought under the
act, which your worship has before you, and the facts are
these :—The complainant is Lavina Long, of Dryden
Street, who is not only the mother of the child, but is also
the mother 'of the prisoner at the bar. Lavine Long, sir,
it appears, was formerly married to a man named Butler;
he was in religion a Roman Catholic, she was and is a
Protestant. She had several children by her former
husband (Butler), and five of them are'alive. The prisoner
is.her eldest daughter, and is a Roman Catholic, having
followed the religion of her father, and is also married to a
Roman Catholic, and all are respectable in their way.
When Mr. Butler died, some circumstanles arose, not ne-
cessary to state here, and the complainant applied to a
Mrs. Spinkton to keep the child (now in dispute) for a
year or two for her. This was agreed to. Swine time
since Mrs. Butler got married again to Mr. Long, who,
as well as herself, is a Protestant in religion. They then
applied to Mrs. Spinkton for the child, but it was refused
to be given up, except five shillings a week would be first
paid for its support for the time the child was with her.
This was refused, and an application was made to Mr.
Clough, the superintendent of the detective police, who
sent two respectable officers, Mr. Carlyle and Mr. aton,
to enquite into the facts of the case. These cfficers were
abused, but soon after the child was brought to its
mother.. where it remained for a day or so. On Thursday
the prisoner called at-the house of her mother (Mrs.
Long), who was out at the time, and saw the child, her
youngest sister. The prisoner took off the child's apron
and asked her to go out with her. She said
she had no bonnet to go out, when the prisoner said
" Oh, never mind your bonnet, come along with me."
She then took the child away with her, and he would
produce witnesses who saw her. There was something
said about a priest, but I do not think it necessary to say
anything on that point, as it is quite immaterial. On
Friday, there was a warrant procured for the restoration
of the child; and when the officers went they could not
find the child. They then said they had a warrant, and
soon after that the child was sent home to its mother and
stepfather. Now, lon the part of the mother, say that
she does not wish to press the charge, if she gets proper
security that the child will not be interfered with nor
taken away again. As to 5s a week, it is rediculous to think
of charging such a sum for a child of this age—she is only
nine years of age. Mr. M,Donnell said, he was happy to
say that every guarantee would be given, on the part of
the prisoner, that no attempt would be made to take awa7
the child. The prisoner and her husband would do all
they could to' satisfy the mother on that point—and that
was at once meeting the case put by Mr. Bluck. Mr.
Bluck : That is all we want, but they fear the child will
be taken and sent away to Ireland; but if you (Mr.
.111‘Donald) will say that no such attempt wilt be made,
my clients will feel quite satisfied. Mr. M•Donnell : The
gentleman who instructs me (Mr. Daly) states that he is
informed by his client that he will not in any way inter-
fere with the child, nor will he allow any one over whom
he has any control to do so. Mr. Mansfield said it was
a pity to see such family differences. The mother was
the natural_ guardian of the child, both by common law
and common sense, and some recent decisions of the
superior courts proved the fact. And as Mr. M‘Donnell
had stated for his client that there would be no further
interference in regard to the child by the prisoner, he
would discharge her. The matter then terminated.

E BROADLEY S WINDER Rq AGAIN.--The gang of
swindlers supposed to be nested at Broadley, nearßochdale,
have been at work again, but their attempt has been in a
great degree unsuccessful. A letter, of which the following
is a copy, has been addressed to a tradesman in Chesterfield,
who advertises regularly in the Manchester papers :
" Broadley, near, Rochdale, 29th Dec, 1856. Dear Sir,--
Please to favour me by return of post with the price of
your cart and waggon covers, .four and five bushel sacks,
&c, of your manufacturing. By doing so you will oblige
yours, most respectfully.—JAMES R. REID " The person
to whom the letter was addressed forwarded a list of prict
and expressed the pleasure he should feel in executing an
order. An order was accordingly sent for a large quantity,
to be delivered at Rochdale station ; and particular instruc-
tions were sent for an invoice, so that the amount might be
remitted, &e. The tempting bait, however, did not suc-
ceed. The tradesman wrote to say that be must have cash
for the first transaction. It is needless to say that it never
came, and the swindling trick was strongly suspected, and
completely confirmed on the expose of some similar trans-
aztions in the newspapers.—Manchester Examiner.

A DEFENCE OF TH& JEws.—Since the Record, in a
recent number, flippantly ranked Jews and infidels
together, we are of opkion that we cou'd not return the
compliment more appropriately, than by enlarging the
social circle, so as also to include the courteous host, our
pious cotemporary. General Codrington, by declaring that
be was in favour of the admission of Jews to parliament,
bad the misfortune to incur the displea4ire of our cotem-
porary, whose feelings are vented in these charitable terms :
—" He (the Lieutenant General) wishes to open parlia-
ment to Jews and, of necessity, to avowed (the italics are
those of the " Record") infidels." C,rairily Jews and
infidels agree in disbelieving the.. doctrinal part of
Cbr:stianity, even .as Jews and Christi ins agree in (Fs-
believing' the articles of faith of Mahometan'sm, or of any
other religion not professed by them. Mit if this :,gree-
ment on a negative point should be a sufficient reasf,n f r
ranking together two otherwise diarrn trically opens to
classes, we may very fairly 'associate the spiritual
evangelical with the sensual Moimoni!e, for they bosh
agree agree in rejecting the supremacy of the Pope ; or the war
abhorring Quaker with the bloodthirsty Thug, for they
both consider baptism unnecessary fur salvation.—Jewish
Chronicle.

LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT.—Yesterda►J'