YOUNG GIRL’S LAPSE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3653, 18 June 1927, Page 3

YOUNG GIRL’S LAPSE

WARNING TO “YOUNG BLACKGUARD.”

Auckland, June 16

“Who is this young blackguard? What does he do?” asked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Chief Detective Cummings, bad just explained that a girl of 17 who was before the Court for sentence on a charge of stealing £3 had been living with a diminutive young man in a salmon cheek shirt and collar sitting in the body of the Court. The little man stood up. “I’m a professional entertainer, sir,” lie said, and added, under pressure, that he was out of work at. present.

“You blackguard,” repeated the. Magistrate, “spoiling a little girl like that! I’ll give you gaol for three months if I get half a chance.” He placed the girl on probation for two years and then turned to Major Annie Gordon, probation officer. “If she doesn’t do exactly as you tell her, I’ll send her to the Borstal for three years; and look here, if that young blackguard goes near her, I’ll make it a condition of her probation that she is not to speak to him or associate with him in any way.” “But I want to marry the little girl,” protested the young man in the salmon shirt.

“How can you marry her when you aren’t earning twopence?” retorted the Magistrate abruptly. “But I can get a steady job,” persisted the object of the Bench’s wrath.

“If you go near the girl HI give you three months,” replied Mr. Hunt. “If you had a steady job, she wouldn’t have to steal to keep you.”