WELLINGTON GIRL'S ESCAPADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1113, 28 April 1911, Page 4

WELLINGTON GIRL'S ESCAPADE.

A SINGULAR CASE. (By Tdecrapk.-Special Correspondents Auckland, April 27. A singular case came before Mr. C. C. Kettle at the S.M. Court in which a re-spectable-looking girl, seventeen years of age, was charged with vagrancy. Chief Detective Marsack explained that the girl had been formally cnarged with vagrancy as she absolutely refused to rctttrn home. The action uad been taken to try and save the girl. William Henry Ellis was called and stated that he wanted the girl to marry him, but she could not do so without her mother's consent, as she was under age. In answer to' Mr. Kettle witness said that he had not induced the girl to leave her home in Wellington and cometo Auckland. Ho did send her £1 because ho thought that, if she camo to Auckland, she would want money. He had lived with a woman, who was not his wife; for about ten years, and was maintaining his two children by her. Sho had gone to Australia. Mr. Kettle: "Why did she leave you?" ■.. "I.suppose she saw a betterlooking man." Mr. Kettle: "You know that this girl ■dtfriiu )li)"her6-'ugain!-t'liwmother's wish?" '' WitMss: ,| Hef'hlSthcr''gavc her consent to the marriage in Christchurch but, since (Jim, raised obstacles. Witness added: "This girl was kind to my children. 1 have kept them for the last three and a half years and you are holding me up to be a scoundrel." Mr. Kettle: "Will you induce this girl to go home with her mother?" ' Witness replied that he would endeavour to induce her to return to Wellington, and would promifc not to encourage her to leave her mother. Mr. Kettle then quoted the following from a letter which had been sent: "Never mind what your mother says; I shall be on the railway station at Auckland." Witness admitted that it was wrong to have written that letter. He also said that Dr. M'Artlmr, 5.M.,. had warned him not to write to the girl, remarking that, if he did so, the facts would be sent to the inspector of police at Auckland. Mr. Kettle snid that they were trying ti rescue the girl from the danger ahead. Then, turning to witness, he added in a stern voice: "Stand down, fir! Stand down, I have done with you!" Witness: "If yon will give me a chance to explain " Mr. Kettle: "I will give you no dinners. Yon arc trying to ruin this ■girl's life! Stand down!" His Worship then asked the girl: "Will you go back to your mother? Can you not see what is in store for you? Will yon return home?" " The girl: "I will ro back with my mother to-night if Mr. Ellis is left alone." Mr. Keltle: "TTu won't be touched." The K ir ' m "de H:o. promise , required, and the information was withdrawn.