Extraordinary Conduct of a Girl.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3586, 17 October 1905, Page 3

Extraordinary Conduct of a Girl.

STORIES OF FORTUNES TITLES AND MARRIAGES. Auckland, October 14. A most extraordinary story was told by Chief Detective Marsack in his opening remarks in a case at the Pobce Court, > A girt named Ruby Barrett, who was stated to be seventeen years of age, but looked two yfcafs ydiitiger, had five charges ttf obtaining goods by false pretences preferred against her. The stated value of tbe goods was about £3, and they were obtained from local grocers. It appears that abont a year ago the girl ran away from home. She went to Henderson, where she made the acquaintance of a family named Styles. She told them she was a relative of Lord Charles Beresford, and also of Nellie Stewart, and that WilSOn Barrett was an uncle of hers, The Styled family toqk the girl ». To endorse her interesting narrative every now and then she would write letters to herself from Lord Beresford, Nellie Stewart, Georg# Edwardes, the actor-manager of England, and posting them herself would receive them, and read them to the Styles family. In these she told wonderful stories of fortunes, titles, and marriages, Enclosed in one was a copy of a draft for £ 1000 10s fid from Lord Charles Beresford. In all of them there was good advice to herself, and some of the remarks were very amusing. Occasionally she would come to town and call on different grocers, and present a note signed either •' Mrs Keenan ” or ” Mrs Bowden.” On receiving the goods the girl woild return to Henderson, and take thorn back to Henderson with her. She would tell the Styles family that her brother was in the grocery line in Auckland, and gave her goods for them in recognition of the manner they bad treated her. This lasted for about nine months. Mrs Keenan and Mrs Bowden were billed accordingly to their respective orders to which their names had been put. They, of course, denied all knowledge of the transactions. This put the grocers on their guard, and the/police were communicated with. On October 6th the girl entered the shop of Mr Hubert Merson, and tendered an order ostensibly signed by “ Mrs Keenan." He gave her the goods, but had her followed, and she was eventually charged with having obtained them by means of false pretences. Four other similar charges were traced to her, and alter some time she admitted them.

Mr Baxter, on behalf of the defendant, pointed out that the parents, who were very respectable, and had been unable to trace the girl after she left home. The father was willing to pay for the goods if the Bench could see its way clear to convict and discharge her. The Magistrate: Haye you been reading novels or something ? Accused: No, I only read the “ Herald.”

The Magistrate : You ceuld not go far wrong through reading the “Herald.” Will you promise me to be good in future, and not do a thing like this again ? The girl said: "I promise faithluliy never to do anything wrong again.” She was then convicted by the Magistrate, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The father paid the cost of the goods the girl had received.