THE WHITE SLAVE TRADE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6162, 6 February 1882, Page 3

THE WHITE SLAVE TRADE.

At Bow Street, London, a young German girl named Englehardt, aged 16, was charged, before Mr Flowers, with stealing a gold watch from a young woman named Spillner. Both parties lived in Francisstreet, Tottenham Court-road. The prosecutrix missed her watch, and upon a search being made it was found sewn up in the lower part of the prisoner's dress. During the hearing of the case it wa3 stated thafc six young girls occupied tho room where the prisoner slept. In her defence she denied having stolen tlie watch, but alleged that she had been the victim of a practical joke. Through M. Albert, the interpreter, she stated that a short time ago she made an application to a registry office keeper — whose name she gaye — at Hanover for a situation. She alleged that he induced her to leave her mother clandestinely by means of tempting offers of a lucrative situation being found for her in England. She was Bent over to the man who kept the house in Francis-street, her expenses having been paid by the registry offico keeper, upon the understanding that all charges were to be paid out of the money received at the situation it was promised to find for her. Upon arriving here, she alleged that she found herself entirely in the power of the person to whom she had been sent, as, being unable to speak one word of English, she could not leave him — in fact, she was a slave to him. She made these assertions with a view of warning young girls not to be deceived by tho tempting offers that were made to them by the agent in Hanover. Mr Flowers caused inquiries to be made into the case, and through the instrumentality of Mr Klaftenberger, of the German Benevolent Society, the prisoner's return to her friends was provided for. She was discharged upon the prosecutor expressing a desire to withdraw the charge. Five shillings were handed to the prisoner by Mr Flowers, and hia Worship had a private interview with the German Consul with reference to the case, it being understood that previous complaints had been made by young girls who have been induced to leave their homes and country in a similar manner, and have resided in the house in Francisstreet.