The Poole Telegram. — 1882-07-21 (Poole, Dorset, England)

THE ALLEGED CHILD MURDER AT DORCHESTER.  To the Editor.  Sir,—Kindly allow me a short sr ce to reply to a letter which appeared in your last issue of the Teleg, am, under the above heading. I will pass over what the writer says about soliciting alms for my poor child's defence, and will leave the public to judge of his character and honour; nor does it concern me how his wife was dragord (as he terms it) into the affair, but I feel it due t any family and friends that I should con. tradict the bas r, lying assertions he has made in refer. ence to myself, fie says that the girl would never have been in her present position if I had done my duty by her, and n tt refused her shelter when she left her situation, and he says that I stated that I would see her starve first. That, he says, was the reason why he and his wife took her in, fed, and clorled her. He goes on to say that neither I nor any of her friends had ever been round to his house to make the least enquiry as to her condition, and he doubts very much if we would have troubled about her at all if this an. fortunate occurrence had not happened. If, sir, the above charge against me be true, then I am guilty of the most cruel, heartless, and unnatural conduct towards my child ; but there Is not a particle of truth in his statement, except as to my not going round to make enquiries about her condition. Had I done so I should have been only abused and insulted as I had been before.  My poor child was at service. She had a good master and mistress, and she seemed very happy until the tempter came like a slimy serpent and stole away her heart and affections from me and her friends. I lost my influence with her. H r tempter was a married man, and old ennugh to be her father. I know not what subtle y he used, but she seemed fascinated by this serpent, and met him by app,)intment and had frequent and long walks in bye places. I remonstrated, but to no purpose. He promised me on his honour once that he would not meet her again, but he did meet her. She ought to have known better, but she fell into temptation. I did not know etre had left her place, until I called at the house where she had lived, and was told by her mistress that she had gone out without leave the previous evening, and on being spoken to about it she had packed up her thingif and left of her own accord. I was very much surprised, and very sorry that she had acted so. I then went to Arnett's House, and found her at work. I said to her " Whatever made you leave your place and come here?" She said she was going to stay there, and I could not induce her to leave. I did not think it an, good to speak to Arnett, for he had previously told me that he would not order her away from his house, and that he would share his last cruet with her. I then said "Becky, I must leave you in the hands of the Lord, and I will leave my door open for you if you like to come." I left with a sad heavy heart. I called on some friends of mine, and told them all about it; they advised me to use authority, and take her by force. I regret now that I did not, but I prayed to God to protect her; and even now I trust Him and believe that He knows best what is for our good. I have not spread false reports; I have only spoken the truth. Nor are we a vindictive or a malicious people, and I am sorry that P. Arnett should have added insult and calumny to injuries I have already received.