EARLY BIRD

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 8

EARLY BIRD

Ethel's Morning

Visit

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch

Rep.)

To the majority of people, two o'clock m the morning is a weird hour to go visiting, but not go far as Ethel Esther Q'Malley is. concerned. ' .

DUT she will have to find a better v excuse next time if she wishes to again enjoy the liberty which she gained f^qm the confinement of prison colls only six brief weeks ago. Ethel's explanation for being found without lawful excuse m the backyard of Patrick Coffey's residence at 130, Peterborough Street, was that she was looking for the landlady to tell her that she (Ethel) could not mind the children that day while their mother went to the races.

Probably the fact that the races did not start until midday and that she had all morning to deliver, her message did not occur to Ethel, ,but she stuck to her story, though without avail.

That inevitable job m the country was still on if she could only have another chance, but Ethel's prospects of freedom were considerably prejudiced Avhen Sub-inspector, Fitzpatrick ventilated the opinion the police held of her.

"She deserves no consideration whatever," the sub-inspector told the court. "Since being discharged from gaol six weeks ago, she has continued to live a drunken and immoral life, and when she was found m this . man's backyard m a drunken condition, the housekeeper was called, and he aaid he had never seen or known the woman before.".

Magistrate Lawry advised Ethel to find' a better excuse next time, and gave her the privilege of living on the State for another two months.

Ethel apparently not hearing the sentence, was pleading for another chance until she was , rudely interrupted by the court orderly'a command to "stand dowu."