DEPRAVED WOMEN.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 358, 12 February 1937, Page 6

DEPRAVED WOMEN.

AUCKLAND CASE. Strong Condemnation Of Conduct Expressed. Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, To-day. Strong condemnation of the character, of a number of young women involved in a charge against Elaine Gordon Beart, of knowingly permitting the Hotel Randall, Pitt Street, to be used for habitual prostitution, was voiced in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. The accused is a widow aged 48, and the jury, after four hours’ retirement, failed to agree, a new trial being ordered by the judge, Mr. Justice Callan. Mr. Sullivan, who appeared for tfle, accused, stated in his address to the jury that the Worst example of Auckland’s population had appeared in the witness' box, and that it was to be hoped that they would come under the guidance of social organisations.

The Crown Prosecutor. Mr. V. R.. Meredith, considered that pity should be felt for the girls for the position they occupied as a result of the eh-, vironment they had been brought up in. The appalling feature of the case was the youth of the young women; involved, some of them being no more than 15 years' of age, others 16 and 18, and the oldest only 20. “Strong as counsel’s language has. been, it is difficult to say that- it lias been exaggerated or that it 'is unjust,” said Mr. Justice Callan. “We may as well face the fact that there i-s a depraved set of young women, who, as far as character is concerned, have practically none at all.” In ordering a new trial, his Hon our said that in the interests' of the young women the sooner they were placed out of the limelight and where they could be controlled the better. The new trial was fixed for next Monday.