A DISGRACEFUL CASE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1990, 21 May 1875, Page 3

A DISGRACEFUL CASE.

( . A strange scene, illustrating a strange phase in colonial life occurred at- the police court yesterday. Catherine Cain, a delicate but good-looking girl, described by her mother as cnly 15 but exceedingly tall for ,her years, was charged,.with vagrancy. The summons; had been issued at the instance :of her. mother, a wiry-looking female of middle age, .who rejoiced in the name of Mary M'Oluey, On the defendant's name being called she walked jauntily into the body of the court. ISurmising that some damaging disclosures would be made, the Bench placed the case at the bottom' of the cause list, in order that the motley audience might be dismissed and the case heard within closed doors. This haying been done, the mother of the girl entered the witness-box and informed the Bench that the defendant (her daughter) had gone to Melbourne three weeks ago, was thoroughly incorrigible, could not be controlled, and was mixing with very questionable society. The defendant, being asked if she had .any. questions to put, advancing ..towards her mother, asked,. " What example, mother, did you lead us five years ago, to drive-me the way that I am ? ."• The complainant replied" that she had shown her family no bad example. Defendant.—What care _or_protection did you show me? Complainant.—¥oll—wero~alW33 Is~Taken good" care of. Defendant —Did not you drive me from my home and-thrust me into the street when I was only 12 years' of age P Complainant.—No, I did not. Mr Panton (to complainant).—L'o you withdraw the charge ? Complainant did,not reply, and the defendant theninformed the Bench that some years ago her mother lived with, a man to whom she was not married, and that her aunt could prove the truth of what she stated. She further alleged that "iber step-father had seduced her | sister, and because he could not seduce her turned her away from her home. ' She had been in service for five years, but lately had been living with her aunt in Melbourne. She complained bitterly that, -while in Geelong, she was constantly persecuted by her mother, who drew all her wages, and left her nothing to get clothes with. In reply to the police magistrate she said she was willing to go to service again if her mother would not molest her, but she did not wish her earnings to be taken from her. Her mother observed that all! she wanted was to keep her daughter I from- bad company. Mr Panton asked , complainant if she was not the same' woman who had applied to him some time since for a summons against the defendant, and he had refused it ? She acknowledged having done so. Inspector Palmer said the complainant was of very questionable repute, and on Sunday her house was full of men. Mr Panton instructed the police to assist the defendant in finding a respectable place where she would be out of the reach of her mother, and in discharging her admonished her ■to take a warning by the position of the old hags" in gaol, and to lead an industrious and virtuous life.—Geelong Advertiser, April 27th.