GREAT HUNGER

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 7

GREAT HUNGER

Young Woman Steals Fbr Her Child ((Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) Fate can play a fiendish hand at times, and to Ann Doyle, one of its' toys, it has dealt some shocking paper. LIOMELESS' and. friendless, Doyle, but - yet a young woman,: has drained the dregs of bitterness and disappointment. ■ The privation she has suffered has left its indelible mark upon her and she looks a- woman twice her years. But m Ann's life there is one bright spark — her child. ' • It was m her attempt to provide for the child that Ann, driven to desperation, saw. the gateway to temporary liberty and independence. Too proud to beg, yet suffering from the pangs of hunger < and the torment of an anguished mind through her inability to. get work, she stooped to dishonesty. THE URGE OF FOOD Doyle, who is a single domestic, aged 36, lost her position as cook m one of the city's restaurants through a change m ownership. She was soon absolutely penniless, but m her earnest effort to find employment she at times walked as far as six miles m search of work, having not the price of a car ride. Then came the fateful 'day. She did not intend to steal, but on going to her landlady's room for a book her eyes settled on some jewellei-y. This was one way out, and m her, »tate of mind she fell an easy victim to the temptation to steal. : ' A wMch and a cameo brooch were appropriated and pawned for a total gum of eighteen shillings. But Anne's first thought was for her child. Fifteen shillings and sixpence was spent ' on food, and repairs to the little one's footwear, while the balance of 2/6 she admitted was spent on whisky for herself. . •■ ' Doyle presented a very sorrowful spectacle when she appeared last week before '. Magistrate Bundle on two. charges of theft of property belonging to Flora Kathleen McAra. As she timidly crossed the courtroom to take her place m the dock, a blush of shamo flamed across her face, and as the case proceeded she began to sob loudly and eventually reached a pitiful state of uncontrollable nervous prostration. It appeared at one time that she would completely break down, but the chief- detective, counsel and the bench! hurried the case along and defendant was subjected to as little mental torment as possible. Lawyer J. Paul, m extenuation of the woman's lapse, related the sad circumstances surrounding her unhappy life. ■ ' , . Her child, he said, had been taken care of by the child welfare officers, while the accused had been .offered a position as cook at one of the local orphanages. Magistrate Bundle took a sympathetic view of the case and admitted accused to probation • for twelve months. He ordered restitution, and declined an application for suppression of name.