Alleged Confession In Burnt Pearls Case

Northern Advocate, 24 January 1939, Page 7

Alleged Confession In Burnt Pearls Case

[Special to “Niqrthern yLduocote”] AUCKLAND, This Day.

The 19-year-old girl who was charged in the police court yesterday with the theft of a pearl necklace valued at £265, the property of Lady Allen, of Remuera Road, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail of £25, with one surety of £25, being allowed. Continuing the evidence yesterdaj r afternoon, Detective Finlay, who is stationed at Whangarei, said he saw the accused in a hotel at Kaihu mid told her that he was making inquiries about a pearl necklace lost or stolen from a hospital in Auckland.

She said she knew nothing about it. She said she sometimes attended to the flowers in Lady Allen’s room and was sometimes there when there -was no third person present. The girl broke down when being fur.ther questioned, Mr Finlay said, and, upon composing herself, said she would make an explanation. In the course of the alleged statement read by Mr Finlay accused said that one afternoon she saw a string of pearls on the dressing table while Lady Allen was out on the balcony. Accused was going to a dance that night and wore the pearls. She did not know of their value. When visiting Mr Bailey’s house one evening she broke the string and, becoming annoyed about. something Mr Bailey had said, she threw some of the pearls on the fire. She did not keep any and thought they were artificial pearl beads. Later, accused said,' she had thrown the diamond clasp on Ho the fire with the pearls’ Mr Finlay stated. (Proceeding),