MENACE AT SEVENTEEN

Evening Star, Issue 19063, 5 October 1925, Page 2

MENACE AT SEVENTEEN

A GIRL'S DEGENERACY SENT TO BORSTAL. Jt was difficult to realise that tho small, weeping, girl-like figure in the dock at the Police Court tliis morning was what Ensign Coombs declared her to be; the leader of a band of girls who were a menace to tho town, and whoso influence might he likened to that of so many “ specks ” in a case of good fruit. Tho girl before the court was Ivy Robertson, bettor known as Ivy Cunningham, and she stood charged with the theft of moneys totalling £2 2s (id, tho property of William Phillip Matthews. She’pleaded guilty, and in answer to the Bench said she was seventeen years old yesterday. Chief-detective Lewis said that the girl had been sent with money to make certain payments, but she bad in several cases paid only part of the amounts duo and altered the receipts to the full amount. She could, said the Chief Detective, have been charged with iorgery, but in consideration of her tender ago tho lesser charge was preferred. Ensign Coombs, who had had tho girl under observation for some time, would say that she was practically the leader of' a lot of young girls who wore of a highly undesirable type. Ensign Coombs then expressed her opinion concerning the girl and her associates, and added that, though she was exceedingly sorry to have to put in such a report concerning such a young girl, it would he better for the accused herself, for Hie other girls, and for the community generally if her influence was removed. Tho accused had, when only thirteen years of ago. acted dishonestly in connection with the sale of artificial flowers on behalf of an old woman. She had been connected, too, with the sordid story of “ the girl in the bottle gatherer’s house,” and with the case of “the house in Carroll street”; but up to now sho had kept just within the safety zone, so far as the law was concerned. All these things, said tho Ensign, made it impossible for her to ask the Bench to extend the privileges of the First Offenders Act to the accused. Her temporary removal to the .Borstal Institute would benefit the community, the girl herself, and, particularly, would relieve the mothers of other girls of much anxiety. The Magistrate (Mr Bundle) said he did not want to enter a conviction against such a young girl if he could avoid it. There was no question, however, that she must be placed under strict control. She would be ordered to be detained at the Borstal Institute, "Wellington, for a period not exceeding two years. There would be no conviction, merely an order for detention. His Worship (to Ensign Coombs) : Would it ho in the interest of the girt if publication of her name was prohibited ? Ensign Coombs: No, sir; publication would act as a warning to the other girls, especially when they know it is “Ivy Cunningham ” that is concerned.