“THE GIRL AND THE CHOW”

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1927, Page 6

“THE GIRL AND THE CHOW”

LIMEHOUSE NIGHTS. Starting in Christchurch. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 17. Discovered sitting in the bedroom of a Chinese fruitshop in Victoria Street, drinking wine, a young white woman ran down the stairs and up the street The detectives chased and caught her. She appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley •1., to-day, on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person.

In dismissing the count, the Magistrate said: — “The circumstances are very unsavoury, but the case in this form cannou stand, as the onus of proving she has sufficient lawful means of support has been discharged. ’ ’ Dorothy Cox, 20 years old, represented by G. A. C. Connal, pleaded not guilty. She was fresh coniplexioned and tastefully dressed.

“She was found on the premises in rather revolting conditions,” said the Chief Detective, W. E. Lewis. Senior Detective J. B. Young said that on February 15, at 4 p.m, Detective Eade and he went to the fruit shop 107 Victoria Street, kept by a Chinese about 65 years old, to pay Chang a visit as a result of “information received.” The girl had been seen to enter the shop and go up the stairs. The detectives questioned the old Chinese, but could not get any information, so they went upstairs and found the door belted on the inside. The girl was sitting on a bed, drinking a glass of wine. There were cigarettes near her. “She did not have any excuse for be ing there,” said Detective Young, “except that the Chinaman had promised to show her some tricks, which she had come to see. When told that she would be wanted at the station, she ran down the street and was caught by Detective Eade. The woman had said that she had never been to the shop before. She was working for Mrs McCarthy, 139 Garden Road. This name and address proved to be fictitious. When the girl was searched, papers on which were written the names and addresses of Chinamen were obtained. There was also a letter from a Chinese to her. Mr Connal: Is it any evidence against her what people may choose to write to The Magistrate allowed the evidence. ' Senior-Detective 1 oung said that the letter was from a Chinese who was complaining that the girl was going wi. .other Chinese. Mr Connal: The door was fastened on the. inside?—Yes. You don’t know that she has been there before? —Someone informed me so. To the Chief Detective, witness said that the girl had been in the premises about half an hour.

Detective A. Allan said that he had known the girl and her mother for seven years. They lived in Wilson’s Hoad. He had seen them on the streets every afternoon for months past. They were always well dressed. He had seen the mother in Manchester Street waiting for the girl who had come out of a Chinese laundry. Defendant’s mother, in the back of the Court: Oh, that’s not true. Witness said he knew there was a maintenance order against the husband who frequently had failed to maintain the family. Mr Connal: You always saw them in broad daylight, never at night?— Yes. IVitness said that he was not aware £2OO maintenance had been paid to the mother through bond, or that she had property and kept two board“The girl’s gilt purse and gloves were on a dressing table,” said Detective Eade. “She had wine or a Chinese drink. ” Mr Connal: There was only one old Chinese in the place?—Yes. The girl was very frightened by the appearance of two burly detectives? — No, the whole force would not have frightened her. Mr Connal said that the girl had been engaged dressmaking with her mother recently. Previously, she had been employed in domestic service in several homes, and had worked in a tea company’s place. The mother had been keeping her, for though she had been deserted by her husband, she had received £250 from the man’s employer under bond. A house which she owned was let for 30/- a week. Two boarders brought in 35/- a week each. Mrs Cox bad put away £3OO in the bank for herself and the girl. Phina Violet Cox, the mother, gave corroborative evidence. To the Chief Detective, Mrs Cox said that four other children were in a receiving home. Did you know your girl visited the Chinese? —No. Did you have any trouble with her in 1922 ? Mr Connal: There is no need to go into that. The Magistrate disallowed the objection. Mr Conna 1 : Well, Sir, it means that things are put up in this Court, which would not be allowed in the Higher Courts.

The Magistrate: That will do. Witness said that a charge of being an idle and disorderly person was preferred against the girl in 1922, but was dismissed.

Chief Detective Lewis: Did you know that she had spoken to Chinese?—l had advised her not to.

Mr Connal: You had warned the girl against any traps she might fall into? Y es.

Counsel submitted that on the evidence the charge must be dismissed. The Magistrate that the onus of proof had been shifted on to the accused. The evidence given by the detectives had not gone to the foundations of the charge. The fact that the girl was found in the room of Chinese was exceedingly unsavoury and unsatisfactory from the Court’s point of view, but if one can believe the mother there is sufficient doubt to discharge the accused.