AN UNUSUAL CHARGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1929, 11 December 1913, Page 6

AN UNUSUAL CHARGE.

SERVANT GIRL'S MISCHIEVOUS ACT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Chi'istahurch, December 10. An unusual case- came' he-fore. Mr. 11. W. Bishop, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court tins afternoon, when Violet Cooper, a superior-looking girl of eighteen, was charged with having committed, an act of arson. Chiol'-Dqtcetivo Bishop, in outlining the case, said that the accused was employed as a domestic servant by Jilts, liurst, of Fendalton. On December 4 Mrs. liurst went nut, leaving the girl in charge, and giving her instructions regarding cooking and the evening meal. The 'girl did not carry out the instructions, her-explana-tion being that she did not know anything about cooking. It was alleged that she then -set fire to some curlniiiE, and before theatre was got under, damago to the extent of £5 was done. Theaccused was one of a family of seven which arrived in the Dominion in October last, and she, with another sister, supported their mother, who was a widow.

On the suggestion of the Magistrate, tho charge was reduced tootle of "mischief, causing damage to tho extent of £5," in order that the accused might be dealt with summarily under the Industrial Schools Act. The Magistrate imposed a nominal sentence- of one month's imprisonment, with a- recommendation to tho Governor to bring tho girl under the provisions of Section 25 of tho Industrial Schools Act. .