LIVED WITH CHINESE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 7

LIVED WITH CHINESE

UNFIT TO MIND CHILDREN STRANGE WELLINGTON CASE (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. A surprise visit by the police to the premises of Wong Way, in the Chinese quarter, at one o’clock this morning, led to the appearance in the dock to-day of Bertha Lilian Chin, a European woman, who two years ago look the name of a Chinaman from whom she has been separated for some time. In answering and pleading guilty to the charge of being idle and disorderly, counsel, on her behalf, suggested that the subtle lure of the Chinese had gripped this woman’s spirit when she threw in her lot with the Celestial two years ago, and this had led to her downfall. She had migrated from Nelson six months ago, in delicate health, but since then had picked up, and was employed minding children for a lady in the city. The police did not give Bertha Lilian a good character, and said that she had been supplementing her income with money secured on regular visits to the Chinese. When arrested she admitted that she visited Way once a week and received a couple of pounds weekly from him. Three letters from Chinese, revealing that she had a definite chain of Oriental associates, were found on accused. Counsel said that accused’s employer wanted her back. The Magistrate, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M.; I could send her to prison for this. Mr. Mills, Probation Officer: I don’t think she is a fit person to have charge of children. Mr. Barton: It seems rather extraordinary that her employer wants her. Mr. Mills: That is what I think. Mr. Barton: The whole thing is so unwholesome that I cannot understand anyone permitting her to have charge of children. Counsel: It was a sudden lapse I s jggest. Mr. Barton: There was no sudden lapse about this. These letters show that she had a definite association with Chinese for her own purpose. Counsel: Well, it is not long since she came here, and it could not have been going on long. It is probably her association with the Chinese she married that led her to this. Mr. Barton remanded her for sentence till Wednesday, pending a report from the probation officer, an order for the suppression of her name being refused.