A MOTHER CENSURED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1908, Page 4

A MOTHER CENSURED.

Ju the Auckland Police Court last week a little girl of 10 years, charged with the "theft 'of a purse containing £2 odd in money from the house of a neighbour so far' hack as August la,st,

said that she had seen a lady who was stopping into a^ tramcar near the dcsfructor drop it.' She ran after the car, but could not catch it. Sho j.ook tho purse homo to hor mother. The mother upheld hor daughter's statement as far as it went, saying that sho kept the puiso for two months waiting to see i£ anyWo advertised in the papers, and then spent the money giving away the purso to the children. Mr. Glaister, who appeared for the little- girl, remarked that there seemed to bo wide-spread ignorance respecting the obligation lying upon persons who found articles. Mr. Dyer : Yes, far too wide. (To tho mother) : Why did you not tako tho puree to tho police-station? You knew it' did not belong to you?— l did not [ know" the law about it.

His Worship : Know tho law ! You know perfectly well what is right and wrong. Any honest person who found what they knew did not belong to them would naturally be anxious to get rid of it to tho owner. That tho purse was found is possible, but your action in the matter I cannot understand. _ Mr. Hendry : Wo may have to consider strongly whether tho mother shall not be prosecuted for receiving stolen property. Mr, Dyer : Well, -the money will havo to bo refunded, together with the cost* of tho prosecution, amounting to 9f.