TIRED OF IT

NZ Truth, Issue 1153, 5 January 1928, Page 5

TIRED OF IT

Sweet Nineteen — But Sought Death

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Rep.) Although twice within a year or two she has attempted suicide and has figured in another, unpleasant case, the senior-sergeant recommended probation for a 19-year-old Gisborne girl who appeared before the court recently charged with endeavoring to take her own life. QNLY a slip of a thing, pale and thin, and wearing a worn look which was not at all consistent with her youth, the girl stood silently in the dock, pleading guilty in a. quiet tone and ' electing to be dealt with summarily. The case, said the police officer, was one where it was necessary to be cruel to be kind. The girl had recently been operated upon at the public hospital. While there she had given considerable trouble by clearing away on several occasions. Finally she had placed a cord. round her neck and tried to ! strangle herself, although he thought this was probably more a case of bluff than an attempt at j suicide. ! In response to the suggestion that the girl should be placed on probation, Magistrate Levvey said he did not see •how this was possible as this was the second time she had acted in the. same foolish manner. She should be sent away to be looked after, he thought. "If I could trust you I would give you a chance," he said, "but last time you promised there would be no more nonsense." The girl was ordered to be detained until she is 21 years of age, the magistrate .pointing out that if her conduct warranted it she could be released earlier. In consideration of her widowed mother, the girl's name was ordered to be suppressed.