Paeroa Police Court.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2080, 22 February 1898, Page 2

Paeroa Police Court .

CHARGE OF THEFT. A respectable - looking young girl named Mary Kate Murray waR charge with stealing on the 22nd Dccembe. last certain goods, viz, three book entitled ‘Robert Ellesmore,’ ‘Ben Hiiv,’and ‘Little Empress Joan,’ on gold locket, several coins, consisting of | nspee (Indian), \ gold dollar, silver penny, silver two-penny piece. Jubilee half-crown, four-shilling piece, one piece of laee. one piece of cambric, the whole valued at 30s, the property of Mr J. Nathan. Sergt. Brennan conducted the prosecution. The girl, who was undefended, pleaded guilty. Sei’gt Brennan gave evidence as to the books, etc., being found in the girls box in Auckland, whilst some of the coins had been disposed of in Paeroa. In reply to the Bench the girl stated that she had nothing to say. Her age was 14 and her parents were in Auckland. After deliberation the Bench decided that it was not a case for probation, as there was no probation officer in Paeroa. Girls in service, if treated well, had plenty of opportunity to steal, and the practice must be checker 1 , It was their painful duty to record a Conviction, and they hoped it would prove a life-long lesson to the girl, who, as the Bench stated, seemed little more than a ohild, and far too young to be sent to service such a distar co from home. She would therefore be sentenced to be kept in prison till the rising of the Court. The Court then rose. —Hauraki Tribune.