"AWFULLY SAD CASE."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 30, 28 September 1912, Page 5

"AWFULLY SAD CASE."

TARAN-AKI HOUSEMAID'S JOKE

'A. smartly dressed young woman, who gave her age as 23, stood in the dock it the Palmerston Police Court, charged with the theft, at Bunnythorpc, oi' a knife, fork and spoon, a silver pepp-r ;>ot, and a silver mustard pot, valued it £2, the property of J. E. Carrick. Asked bow she pleaded,' she replied: "I am guilty. I 'inn. very sorry. I had a few drinks yesterday., I didn't really mean I did it for a kind of joke. The tilings would have be on of no usfc to me."

Messrs JR. Gardner and H. T. Flyger were the presiding Justices. The facts of the case were stated by Po-lice-Sergeant Willis, who said the \-oung woman, in company with two -nen in a motor car, called at the Bunnythrope Hotel yestei'day for lunch. After lunch, and when they had driven away, the proprietor of the hotel missed the articles, and telephoned to the Palmerston police. Subsequently, Detective Quirke found the young woman in company With two men at a hotel at Palmerston. He arrested her, aid found the missing articles in her portmanteau. She had had some drink. Her statement was apparently true that she took the things for a joke. Mr Gardner: This is an awfully sad case. What are you doing? How do you get your living? Prisoner: I am a housemaid. The Pench : In an hotel? Accused: No, I have just left a situation up the line. lam going now to a place with some friends at Wellington. Sergeant Willis: She has a railway ticket for Wellington, your Worship. She came down from Taranaki the day before yesterday. She picked up with a man during the trip and broke the journey at Palmerston. Mr Gardener: She spent Pst night at the hotel ? Sergeant Willis: Yes, sir. Mr Gardener: These stolen articles must be returned. As this is the girl's first offence, and as it is a sad one, we will fine her only 10s. Sergeant, please sec that she goes away by the train. Accused left the dock in company with the police.