Unmarried or widowed single women, such as a sister of the father or mother, sometimes lived with the family like The Insane Spinster Ghost of Appleton I wrote about. Often grandparents lived with their son or daughter’s family. Sometimes the only way poor families could fend off starvation was for the children to either work or be sent off to another family. Such is the case of young Margaret Moore. If this had happened today Mr. Howard would not have gotten off lightly.
Photo from Pakenham Ontario Pictures
The Queen Versus Howard –Abduction
Perth Courier, March 29, 1872
The prisoner was indicted for the abduction of Margaret Moore, a girl under 14. The girl some three or four years ago had been placed by her mother in charge of Mr. Howard’s mother to bring up. The latter died a short time ago and the girl’s sister, who resides in Pakenham, wished to take her sister with her to the States and the girl was given up by Howard to one James McKeon who proposed sending her to her sister.
Howard afterwards went to McKeon’s and got passes of the girl on the plea that he would take her to her sister’s in Pakenham. Instead of doing so, however, he took her home and refused to give her up. The judge thought the girl old enough to decide for herself and she was called to take the stand and asked whether she would go back with Howard or go with her sister. She decided to go with her sister and they settled the case and the prisoner was discharged.
Howard was let off because of complaints of low water in the Mississippi. At Pakenham the factory had been “shut down,’’ and there were whispers of contaminated water. His representatives said he had drank some bad water and it had affected his mind. Was this an OJ Simpson type defense before its time?
Amazing Photos of Pakenham
Information about Pakenham etc. can be found on Bytown or Bust site ot
You can read the Perth Courier at Archives Lanark
lindaseccaspina 
That is pretty intense!
LikeLike
Yes mam.. people got away with everything:(
LikeLiked by 1 person