THE EVENING MAIL. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 354, 12 June 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1877.

Martlia Craig and John Madden, who were charged with stealing a large amount of moi' m ' and valuable papers from one John Lr. \. w. at Craig's Boarding-house, were this morning discharged from custody, his Worship not being willing to commit them for trial on the unsupported testimony of Alice Purnell. His Worship spoke strongly upon the matter. A report of the procedings will be found elsewhere.

At the St. Paul's young Men's Association, last night, Mr. M'Pherson delivered a highly interesting lecture on the late events in Europe. Ke opened his lecture by remarking that the so-called Eastern Question

was one of the most important, as well as one of the mo.:t exciting, subjects that had

engaged the attention of Europe, or, in fact, the world, for years ; and that the present war would have an effect on the different religious feelings of every nation, and he believed that the equilibrium of all Europe would be involved. After referring to a number of the sad occurrences that had taken place in Bulgaria, Mr. M'Pherson drew his k-cture to a by stating his belief that the Turkish Government would be overthrown, the turban give place to the hat and cap of the Franks, and that the crescent would go down before the cross. The lecture was illustrated by more than a hundred pictures and map 3. The Eev. Mr. Todd and others then commented on the

essay, ami gave the essayist great praise for his well-written paper. Alice Purnell, alias Mary Ann Greaves,

the principal -witness in the charge of lai-ceiry against Martha Craig and John Madden, heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, "is no chicken," to use a I vulgaiism. She appears to be well versed in the many little dodges which old and hardened offenders only are supposed to he capable of performing. And well she might, for if there is one woman in this Colony whose character is worse than that of any other, Alice is that woman. According to her own acknowledgment she has been in gaol more times than she can remember, and has gone through a series of offences scarcely unexcelled by any other criminal in 'New Zealand. From drunkenness and prostitution to larceny and perjury she appears to have travelled with steady but sure steps, and may now be termed the most accom-

plished female criminal in the Colony. [She! probably knows more about gaol and eoittt' business than any other of her sex to be m% with in any of the common prisons of Ne Zealand. To show the artfulness of th< "critter," we may mention that when called upon to sign her name to the docui ment in the Resident Magistrate's Court some days ago, when on her trial foi perjury, Alice, with the charming simplicity of a blushing young maiden, pleaded tlat she could not write. Ah, sweet creature! she knew what she was about when she made that assertion. She was then being tried for having sworn that she had 'g.?t signed a certain receipt which four witavftes declared they had seen her sign. No wonder, then, that this fifty-times-convicted drunkard, vagrant, &c, &c, and &c, should affirm that she was unable to write. The untruthfulness of the assertion was, however, proved in the District Court by Sergeant Eoutledge, who stated that he had seen Alice Purnell, alias Mary Ann Greaves, sign her name, and who produced a police document with her signature attached thereto. Her little game having been played out, Alice yesterday admitted that she could sign her' name in a sort of a way, and afterwards affixed her signature to the copy of her depositions in the case against Mrs. Craig and ' John Madden. In the words of the song it might be asked, "Alice, where art thou?" to which the reply would be very unpoetic — " Alas ! in gaol once more." The usual monthly meeting of the Oamaru Mutual Benefit Building Society, for the receipt of cash, &c, will be held at Mr. Sumpter's office this evening, between the hours of seven and half-past eight o'clock.

During the hearing of the charge of larceny against Martha Craig and John Madden at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. O'Meagher, who appeared for the prisoners, protosted against the police adding the alias to Mrs. Craig's name. 'I he learned counsel said that Mrs. Craig had stood her trial at Christchurch for bigamy, and had been honourably acquitted, and it was therefore unfair to add an alias to her name.

The Gaiety Comedy and Burlesque Company appeared again at the Masonic Hall last evening, when there was a fair attendance, but not nearly so large an one as '-nirrbt have been expected. The and Crasher," wnicli was soilltJwnat different to the version which we have seen "many a time and oft " before. The version played, however, was very amusing, and we may therefore pardon the many departures from the original text of the farce. The burlesque of "Paris" was the principal and concluding item of the programme, and proved exceedingly emusing. It is something after the style of "Ixion," but can scarcely be said to equal that burlesque in most of its salient points ; indeed, until produced by Mr. Hall and his company in Christchurch, it has been a failure wherever it has been played. By the introduction of several excellent songs, and some exceedingly comic business, and the littl* judicious alteration, Mr. Hall and his company make the piece go immensely. The concluding scene is perhaps the best of all, and does much to make the burlesque a greater success than it otherwise would be. In this scene some burlesque acrobatic feats are introduced, and the exceedingly ludicrous manner iu which they are gone through are sufficient to convu'se the most stoical of the audience. The same programme will bs repeated this evening, when we would advise all who enjoy a good hearty laugh to be present.

A telegram from Napier in the Wellington Argus says:— "At a meeting of the Municipal Council a letter was read from the Inspector of Police, calling attention to the large amount of destitution in Napier; also stating that he had paid £6O out of his own private pocket for the relief of those requiring aid. He desired the Council, as he could not stand such a drain on his private resources, to make some provision. The Council debated the matter, and concluded to lay the matter before the General Government, and to ask for a refund of the £192 stopped from the subsidy for the relief of the destitute. Business is more than ordinarily dull, even for this season of the year, numbers being unable to find employ? ment.