"ONLY A PAIR OF CHILDREN."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 6

"ONLY A PAIR OF CHILDREN."

A CHRISTCJIUBCH CASE. (By TaleirraDli.-Press Association.) Christchurch, July 28. At the iWagistrate's Court, before Mr, Bishop, S.M., Constance M'Cracken wa< charged with stealing .£2O on July 21 ai Christchurch, tho property of Josepl Langmorp. .Accused, who was onlv li years of age, was unrepresented. She wepl often. Chipf-Dotective Bishop conducted th< prosecution. ; Tlio sub-inspector said that the girl hnc been-a barmaid in a leading hotel ii Christchurch. Sho had* there made th< acquaintance of a young man who- fre quented the bar. The victim of tho thef arrived in Christchurch from Gisborno : few days before tho offence, and went ink the bar where accused was employed, anc tendered a JC2O -note in payment foi drinks. She said she would give him tin clinngo in tho morning, but did not di so. Accused and' tho other voun? mai (aged eighteen years) sot off "for Sydiietogether, under assumed, names, as' Mr nnd Mrs. Diaz. His mother came dowi from tho north, nnd in Wellington hean what had happened. Accused was arrest ed on. the arrival of the ferry boat ii Wellington yesterday morning. The young man's mother said that lv was only eighteen years of nge. Slu would take him away from Christchurch The sub-inspector said ■ that. the gir was only eighteen years of age. She hai no friends at all in New Zealand, nni appeared to hove begun badly. She woul< not go to a home. The young man': mother offered to get, the girl into a lionu with her relatives in Christchurch, win were good, reliable, religious people. Shi would take her son to the north with her so that they might be separated. His Worship remarked that it was ( very handsome offer, but he did not thinl it would do, as she had made such a ba< start. The mother then said she wouh take the girl to her home in Woodvilh jvith her, and leave her son in Christ church. His Worship examined the girl severe]' as to why she had taken the money, nni what her relations with the young mai had been. Accused answered the questions frankl' enough, but wept bitterly. The chicf-detectivo said that in hi opinion tho girl was infatuated with th young man. They were only a pair o children. Tho accused expressed her willingnes to stay with the young man's mothei The mother promised to look after th girl, and expressed her confidence that sli would be able to keep the girl. Certainl' she would look after her well.' iris Worship agreed with tho chid detective's statement that the offer was splendid one, and quite tho best tha could be made. The young man, who looked very voun indeed, stepped forward to be told steml that he had better stay with his mothei and the less heard of him the belter. H came in for some severe but useful advic and comment. Accused was ordered to come up fo sentence when called upon within si months, restitution to bo made witlii that time, and the warrant to bo sm ponded while she remained with, th youth's mother and behaved well, -