RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 4103, 21 April 1876, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, PORT CHALMERS.

Friday, April 21, (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.)

Shocking Depravity.- -Caroline Moore, Margaret Moore, and Mary Ann Moore were charged, on the information of the police, with keeping a house of ill fame. The accused pleaded not guilty.— It appeared from evidence of Constables Coffey and Livingstone that the prisoner Caroline Moore lived with her family on the Town Belt, in a tent some 12ft by 10ft, and that on Sunday morning at an early hour witnesses’ proceeded to the tent, which they found in darkness. Hearing a great disturbance inside the constable lifted the flap and found it occupied by no less than nine persons. The prisoner Caroline Moore was in a drunken state and singing, while two men, named M ‘Quin and Dover, were also there. One had his arm round the youngest girl, and the man Dover was in a kind of bed. The constable inquired who he was, and Caroline Moore replied that he was her son. Constable Coffey

knowing better put the question to the man, and obtained his name. The constable also stated that the old woman was a known prostitute. She did a little washing as a cloak to cover her depravity. ■ — Sergeant Morkane informed the Bench that no doubt if the girls were removed from the mother’s influence they would behave themselves properly ; at present however, they only copied her vile example. In defence, Margaret Moore denied any criminality, and defied any one to prove that she had been guilty of improper conduct.—Caroline Moore said the only thing she was guilty of was working hard at washing. She was the mother of sixteen children and would not bring her girls to ruin.—His Worship said the charge against Mary Ann Moore would be withdrawn by his orders, she being too young to answer such a charge. Her sister Margaret was evidently kept in the house as a decoy by the mother, who, he had no doubt, would lead her to immorality. He would order her to be discharged. Caroline Moore he had no doubt of the guilt of. She had been before him many times, and he would order her to find two sureties in L 5 each to be of good behaviour for six months.