Gertrude Burdett LAUNDER (1881-1964) - Warren and Ford Family History

SUPPORT OF A CHILD   -   MOTHER'S CLAIM DISMISSED

At the Malvern Court today, before Mr, P. Cohen, P.M., and Messrs Dunlop, Weller, McMIIIan and Holmes, J.P., a young man Named Bert Peagram, of Northcote Road, Armadale was charged by Gertrude Launder of High Street, Armadale, with having left a child without means of support.

Mr Sonnenberg appeared for complainant, and Mr Claude J. Lowe for defendant, who denied the charge.

Complainant said that she was a single woman. She first met defendant on the night of August 26 last. Intimacy took place on that night, and the child was born in a private hospital on Empire Day.  Defendant was the father of the child.

To Mr Lowe - She was sure It was not on the night of September 9 that she met defendant.  Defendant forced her, but she did not call out.

Mary Launder, mother of the witness, said that defendant had admitted to her that he was responsible for her daughter's condition. Her daughter was an epileptic and was half-witted.

Jane Launder, residing with her mother, said that It was on August 26 that she and her sister met defendant. It was three days afterwards that her sister told her what had happened.

Defendant, on oath, said that he met complainant and her sister first on September 9 last.  No Intimacy took place, and he was not the father of the child.

To Mr. Sonnenberg:  The statements made by all the witnesses were untrue. He had never had anything to do with the girl.

George Swindon said that he was with the defendant when he was Introduced to the complainant.  He was positive that the date was September 9.

The complaint was dismissed.

MAINTENANCE CASE FAILS.

A case distinguished by hard swearing on the part of one or other of the parties concerned occupied the attention of the Malvern bench (Mr. Cohen, P.M. chairman) yesterday, when Herbert Peagram was proceeded against by Gertrude Launder for the support of her illegitimate child.  

Complainant was represented by Mr. Sonnenberg, and defendant by Mr. C. Lowe.

Gertrude Launder, a single woman of feeble intellect, residing at High-street. Armadale stated that on the night of 26thAugust she and her sister met an acquaintance named Geo. Swindon, near Armadale railway gates. Swindon was with a friend, who was introduced to them as Clive Pettigrew.  

They paired off, Pettigrew accompanying witness.  A child was born on 24th May this year.  Her mother had paid the confinement expensed. She discovered afterwards that the man's real name was Peagram.  

Mary Launder, mother of informant, gave evidence regarding an interview at her residence between the members of her family, defendant, and defendant's father. When charged with being the father of the child, defendant said, "I am the Man!  I did it."

Her daughter was half witted and subject to epileptic fits.

Jane Launder, sister of informant, was next called. Her evidence was mainly corroborative. She comported herself with melodramatic assertiveness and much of the time was engaged in verbal conflict with the solicitors.  Asked whether defendant was the person who had walked with her sister on 26th August, she exclaimed, "Yes that's the man;  he wants shooting."

Herbert Peagram, the defendant, swore that it was 9th September when he met informant.  When they were introduced no name was mentioned, and he and complainant were never further than ten yards from the others at any time during the walk.

He denied that anything improper had occurred, or that he was the father of the child. He had never admitted paternity.

After George Swindon and William Peagram, father, of defendant had given evidence, the bench decided that the evidence was inadequate to prove the child's paternity and dismissed the case.