POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 306, 28 December 1898, Page 4

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(P,efore Mr H. -,W. Brabr.nt,r S.M.)

A Painful Case. —-Theresa Butler, a : girl of IT, was charged with being'an idle and disorderly person, having- in> ; . sufficient lawful means of■ .support; Her little brother and sister, Jazaes and Agnes Ada Butler, were charged with being children found in a House of ill-fame. Theresa pleaded not . guilty, but the evidence of the detectives and the police led His-Worship

to record a conviction. Acording to Constable Cullinane's evidence tie family were in a sad state of poverty. He found nine people in the house,. and only • one bed, other; mattresses ■■.:■■' being simply spreacl on the floor with-/ ~. out any blankets.- The house was; bare, the only furniture being a table and a few chairs. The Eev. Father Buckley, who w ras in Court, stated that' he would, defray Theresa .But-V.s ler's expenses to the Magdalen Homa at CbristcTiurch if she would go there. She promised to do so, and sentence was accordingly deferred for one week ; to see whether the girl availed herself of the opportunity offered. With' • regard to the two children, His Wor- .- f ship decided to send them to-Indus-: trial schools. M consider,' he. said. 'I. .•■ should do that in order that their . father should no longer be their, guardian. He has failed in his duty. —it may be his fault or.it may be his ■ -misfortune —in bringing up another, - : child properly, and therefore I think; • it is necessary in the interests of the:. children themselves that he•; shoiild ' >~■ no longer be their guardian.'—:.' _, Another girl named. Nellie Mills (17), • . s who lived with the Butlers, was alsc , convicted on a charge of vagrancy. She expressed her readiness to enter the Magdalen Home, and sentence was accordingly deferred for a week. Drunkenness.—Foxir first offending •.■■=; 'drunks' were convicted and discharged'; Mary Eeilly was fined 5/ or • 24 hours, Norah Williams 10/' or sever days for second offences; Edward Sin'nett got seven days hard labour for. a fourth offence, and Margaret Wiikie 14 days for a fifth. ■ . '-''

. Eemanded.—Edward Charles Follas, charged with assaulting Joseph Jordan and robbing him of, £6 5/, was remanded till the 4th prox. Bail was ' allowed, accused in £100 and two > sureties in £50 each. ' "... \.-~j '