SHOCKING DEPRAVITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3147, 5 June 1897, Page 3

SHOCKING DEPRAVITY.

A YOUNG GIRL'S STARTLING DISCLOSURES. The Magistrate's Court was crowded yesterday with an eager, morbid crowd of men and youths, anxious to hear the evidence to be given against Minnie Brown and Charles Gripps, the latter charged with criminal conduct with Ida Whittaker and Margaret Ann Noonan, or Wills, two girls over the age of 12 and under the age of 16 years.’ The crowd craned their necks and hustled one another to catch a glimpse of the parties. But they were doomed to disappointment, for Mr H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., very properly ordered the Court tc be cleared before he would hear any evidence. This was done,the crowd filing slowly out. To show how strong was their morbid curiosity, however, they wailed outside the doors and lounged about the corridors for the greater part of the day. The prisoners were then placed in the dock.

Mr Gully conducted the case for the prosecution and Dr Findlay appeared for the prisoners. The first witness called was Richard Harris, clerk at Baker Bros., agents, who gave formal evidence as to the rent for the house being paid by Bundle and Brown.

Mrs Elizabeth Whittaker, living in Cambridge row, was then called, and deposed that she had a daughter named Ida Emily Whittaker, who was born on December 9th, 1883, at Palmerston North. On May 2itli her daughter left home at 8 o’clock in the morning, and witness did not see her until 10 o’clock that night at the Mount Cook Police Station. It was midnight before they left the station. On arriving home the constable told witness to examine the girl, which she did. [Witness then detailed the result of the examination.] By Dr Findlay; Her daughter would be 14 years of age next December. She did not earn any money as a domestic, but sold watercress, which enabled her to earn afe w shillings. Her daughter had never been so long away from home before. She sometimes stayed out in the evening until 9or 10. She was at times accompanied by her sister, and at other times went alone. Until the 24th of May she did not know that her daughter had led an immoral life. She saw no objection to her daughter being out at night. Maggie Wills was a companion of her daughter's. She might have heard something against Maggie Wills’ character, but took no notice of it. Witness never forbade her daughter to go with Wills, excepting when she was out late. Her daughter always gave her the money she received by soiling watercress. Her daughter looked younger than she really was. Dr John Teare, medical practitioner, gave evidence as to the state of the two girls when medically examined. Ida Whittaker was called and stated that she was 13 years of age. On the Sunday evening before May 24th she was with Maggie Wills. She met the accused Cripps and was talking with him. She had not known him to speak to before this. They met him by Reid’s baker’s shop in Taranaki street. Cripps spoke to them first, while they were on their way to tho Salvation Army. Cripps told Wills that he had a pair of boots and if she came to Minnie Brown’s bouse the next day (Monday) he would give them to her. They were to go there between 10.30 and 11 o’clock. Cripps said his name was Watson. He gave Wills a shilling. Witness arranged to meet AVills at her house tho next morning. They left the house between 10 and 11 o’clock to go to Minnie Brown’s house in North street. Witness did not know the place, nor did she know Minnie Brown. When they arrived at Brown’s house they met a girl named Nellie Evans coming out, and Wills sent her in to Minnie Brown to ask her to come out and speak to Wills. Brown said, “ I am sorry 1 can’t let you come in now, as Percy is getting ready to go out.” They waited awhile, and Percy (Bundle) came out. After he went, witness and Wills went into the house. Gripps came in afterwards, and Minnie asked him to “ shout.” Witness went to an hotel for some whisky and two bottles of lemonade, which was drunk. Witness did not have any whisky, bat Wills did. Witness went for some more whisky for Minnie Brown, Cripps giving her the money. Wills again bad whisky with tho others. While the others were drinking Brown asked witness what her favourite drink was.

Female accused: Don’t tell stories. Witness, continuing: Wills answered and said “ Port wine and brandy.” Witness went for the liquor and when she returned she drank all of it. Minnie then said to Wills, “You had better go and lie down, you are getting drunk.” Brown took her into the bedroom and witness went with her. This'was some time during the day. Minnie Brown helped Wills on to the bed. Wills was “ drunk as anything.” Witness sat on the bed. AYills then commenced to bo “sick.” Cripps came into the room. The witness here said, she could not remember all that happened, but afterwards described what took place. When they returned to the kitchen some “shandygaff” was sent for. Nellie Evans was there. Percy Bundle came back when it was dark. Cripps said something about a bank-book, and that ho wanted to get some money. They went out, but came back again and said they could not get any money, but would go to Newtown and try. They had not gone long when Constable Cassin came, and witness and Wills went away with him. The constable took witness to the Police Station. Her mother was there and took her home. While being cross-examined by Dr Findlay the girl gave shocking testimony against herself. She never told her mother. The case was then remanded till this morning; in the meantime Mr Gully to confer with Judge Edwards as to the advisableneks of committing the prisoners for trial at this stage. Bail was not asked for. The hearing of the charge against Bundle was adjourned for a week.