YOUNG GIRLS RUINED.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1916, Page 9

YOUNG GIRLS RUINED.

| REVELATIONS IN COURT. | SOJIB PLAIN SPEAKING. Auckland 1 , Saturday. A sad story was told to Mr. F. V. Fraser, S.M., yesterday, when a young girl aged 17 years appeared on a charge of vagrancy.

Sub-Inspector Mellveney said the girl was the daughter of highly-respected people, and the grand-daughter of one of the finest- men ever in Auckland. While she was employed in dental rooms she made the acquaintance of a man who had deliberately set out to ruin girls who have reached the age of 10 years. The man was a taxi-driver. This man had used his taxicabs for the purpose of damaging the girlhood of the community. When this man applied for a license, he, the sub-inspector, did not hesitate to place his opinion before the authorities. Yet the man got his license. Not only did he use his cabs, but he had a house in the suburbs, and there was evidence which enabled him to say that it was u-:ed for improper purposes. Continuing his remarks, he said the g ; rl was then out of employment, anil was living with her parents, ""'a helpless girl, with shattered health and ruined morals." After an interview the girl promised him that she would remain with her parents and would. 1 keep away from the man and have nothing to do with him.

"Xo sadder case has ever come before me," said' the sub-inspector, "and I greatly regret that a man should be in a position to carry on in this way. 1 have no doubt as to what the man is. Htrc is the signed statement of another ri;med girl who, fortunately, has been saved from his influence, and here is another statcmeht."

The statements produced were those of young girls who admitted having been for "joy-rides" with the man referred to, and who also admitted that improprieties had taken place on several occasions. The sub-inspector, continuing his original narrative, said that owing to the girl's shattered health and ruined morals no opportunity was afforded her of seeing the man, and her father would not allcw her to leave the house without her mother.

APPEARED TO BE INFATUATED. At home, went on the sub-inspector, tin? girl was shown every consideration, hut she was a determined girl. She said she loved the man, notwithstanding the fact that he was married and that he had acknowledged his misdeeds in connection with other girls. She appeared to be infatuated with him, and willing to give up everything to see him. Reeontly she saw him a.t the races, and the next thing the father knew was that she had bolted. On Thursday night she was seen by a constable and brought to the police station. The sub-inspector said he asked her to turn over a new leaf and to give up the man, but she was adamant. Consequently, in hei own interests the charge of vagrancy was laid against her, and she was placed in 9 cell until her mother came, and she as then bailed out, after the sub-inspec-ti-r had warned her of the seriousnesß of her position and told her that the Magistrate had power to send her to gaol. The sub-inspector said the girl was now penitent, and he asked His Worship to adjourn the case for a period and place her under the strict supervision of the probation officer, the Rev. F. R Jeffreys,

"THE QUEEN STREET PARADE "

Mr. Jeffreys said he had been watching tli'* man for some time, as he had strong suspicions of his conduct towards other young* girls. He. sincerely hoped something would be done in tlwj way of stopping licenses being granted to such people In view of public statements made recently, he wished to say it was simply deplorable the number of ruined young g;r!s in this city. He had 7net numerous ce'es where relatives had sought his aid for girls which the Queen Street Friday and Saturday nights' parade had ruined.

Adjutant Gordon, of the Salvation Army, said the position regarding young "ills was simply appalling, and the number of young girls in Queen Street from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to ]!' p.m. was positively dreadful to see. The adjutant expressed her gratitude to the police for taking action.

Mr. Jeffreys said that if the authorities in Wellington knew what was going on here they would grant facilities in the way of establishing women police

GRANTING OP THE LICENSE.' The magistrate said the age of consent was the whole trouble, as unless there was actual abduction a man acting in this manner with a girl over 16 years of age committed no offence. He thought it rather remarkable that the council should grant a license, in face of the subinspector's adverse report upon the marAddressing the girl, the magistrate said he did not so much blame her as the man, but warned her what would happen to her if she did not turn! over a new leaf. He told her she would find the man would soon cast her over, and that he was not worth another moment's thought. The father of the girl interjected that the man persisted in following her everywhere. Mr. Frazer: If you gave him a good 1 hiding, I do not think The sub-inspector (interrupting): I miist take the responsibility for the father not taking action or he would have : pounded him to jelly before now.

TAR AND FEATHERS SUGGESTED Mr. Frazer: You may have given goorl advice, but if somebody tarred and feathered him or gave him a good hiding! I doubt if much would be done. At any rale no harm would l be done by promising him a hiding that he would remember for the rest of his days, unless he leaves the girl alone, and the father would have the satisfaction of knowing that the threat would affect the man's cowardly nature. The sub-inspector said he thought the man could be brought before the Court and punished for assault. The Magistrate: It is doubtful, for the girl consented. The sub-inspector: I'm willing to give him a run for his money. The case was then adjourned for 12 months, and the girl was placed under the supervision of the probation officer, the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys. The girl was also warned that if she misbehaved in the meantime she would be liable to be brought up again and sent to an industrial school.