A GIRL’S FANCIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1585, 16 October 1905, Page 4

A GIRL’S FANCIES.

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

.'(Pen PreßS Association.) Auckland, Saturday,

A most extraordinary story was told by Chief Dotcctivo Marsuok in bis opening remarks in a oago at tho Polioo Court. A liitlo girl named Ruby Berrot’, who was statod to bo 17 years of ago, but lookod two years younger, had five obargos of obtaining goods by faleo pretoooos preferred against bor. It was statod that tho vaiuo of tho goods wub about U 4, and that thoy were obtained from looal grooers. It appears that about a yoar ogo tbo girl ran away from home. She wont to Hondorson, whero she mado tho acquointnnco of a family named Stylos. She told them she was a rolativo of Lord Charles Bereaford, and also of Miss Nollio Stewart, and that the lato Wilson Barrott was an uncle of bors. Tho Stylos family, eaid tho dotootivo, were presumably simple, and thoy took her in. To endorse bor intereating narrative, evory now and again tho girl would write letters to herself from Lord Charles Beresford, Miss Nollio Slewart, and Mr George Edwardes, tho actormanager. In these letters she told wonderful stories of fortunes, titles, and marriages. Enoloßed in one was a copy of n draft for JGIOOO 10s 6d from Lord Charles Reroßfoid, In all of them thero was good advice to herself, and some of the remarks were very amusing. Occasionally she would come to town, and oall on different grooers, and present o note, elgnod either 11 Mrs Keenan ” or “ Mrs Bowden." While in town she would poet the letters as mentioned above to herself. The following is a sample of tho noto she would band to the grooers "Dear Sir,—Please give tho following goods to bearer, and oblige.—Mrs Keenan : 61b baoon, 2 tins apricot jam, 8 large tins sheeps’' tongers,' 2 tins corn moat, 1 large tin 1 oondesed ’ milk, tninoo moat, 8 boxes obooolatßß, lollies, 2 daz. eggs, 8 largo tins salmon, lib of tobaooo.-(Signed) P. Koenon ” On receiving the goods the girl would return to Henderson, and take the goods with her. She would tell the Styles family that her brother was in the grooery line in Auckland, and gave her the goods for them in recognition of the kindly way they bad treated her. This lasted for about nine months. Mrß Keenan and Mrs Bowden were billed acoording to the respective orders ta which thoir names had been pnt. They, of course, denied all knowledge of the transactions. This accordingly put the grooers on their guard, and the police were oommunioatod with. On October 6th the girl entered tbo shop of Mr Hubert MersoD, and tendered an order ostensibly signed by Mrs Keenan. He gave her the goods, bnf bad her followed, and she was eventually obarged with having obtained them by means of false pretenoes, Fonr other siniilac charges wore traoed to her, and after some time she admitted them. Mr Baxter, on behalf of the defendant, pointed out that her parents, who were very respeotable, had been unable to traoe the girl after she left home. Her father was willing to pay for the goods if the Bench could see Us way to convict BQ( j discharge her.. The Magistrate (to the defendant):

Have 50a been reading novels, or some' thing ? The defendant: No, I only read the Herald. The Magistrate: Yon could not go far wroDg through reading the Herald. Will yon promise me to bo good in future, and not do a thing like this again ? The defendant : I promise faithfully never to do anything wrong again, The’girl was then convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The father paid the cost of the goods whioh the girl had received.