Alfred Frederick Buerckner

A custody dispute is reported in "The Argus" of Tuesday 3 May 1955:

"Father 'snatched baby'. It's mine -2 claim in Court

"MOTHER: "I care for the baby and love it a lot."

"FATHER: "Bubs is my baby just as much as hers."

"These two statements were made in Parramatta Court, Sydney, yesterday when the father was charged with abducting the baby

"The mother, Mary Patricia Taylor, told the Court she was now living with another man.

"She said the child. Rosemary Joanne Taylor, 17 months, was snatched from her at Central Railway Sta tion on April 23.

"She had screamed and called for help, but no one had come to her assistance.

"The father. Alfred Frederick Buerckner, 32, laborer, of Dover rd.. North Wil liamstown, Victoria. was committed for trial on a charge of having abducted the child.

"He was allowed £40 bail.

"Taylor said Buerckner was the father of the child, but it was not registered in his name.

"She said Buerckner took the child to Melbourne last year and told her: "You can come to Melbourne or you can bury the child."

"He had held a knife at the child's head, she said.

"When she went to Mel bourne she found the child dirty, "and its clothes not nice and clean."

"Buerckner had allowed her to have the child for two days and she had brought ii to Sydney, where he had snatched it screaming from her arms.

"Police said Buerckner had admitted taking the child.

"He had said: "I have been living with Pat for about three years as her husband

"She cleared out three I months ago, and left me with the baby, so I took it to Melbourne and gave it to my sister to look after."

"Police said Buerckner appeared very fond of the child, and his main concen was for its welfare."