BOLD BAD GIRLS.

NZ Truth, Issue 95, 13 April 1907, Page 5

BOLD BAD GIRLS.

CLEAR FROM CAVERSHAM.

Start a Swift Life m

Wellington.

Bat Are Sent Back Home.

Magistrate McArthur had before him m ni3 Chamber, which was constituted a Juvenile OoUrt, on Tuesday last, two little dears, hardly lft years of age, named Vida Pollock and Johanna Hill, against whom the police had preferred charges of being idle and disorderly persons, having insuffi- . cieht visible means of support, because circumstances admitted of no other charge being made. These two dears are, or once were, little innocent country maidens, who lived at Cavershaiji, but apparently found Gaversham too slow for their swift natures, arid they therefore determined on giving Wellington a go, and a disastrous go it proved m the end, as they got m the Lands of the police. The sweet dears are not pretty, but they are young and tender, so that makes them all the more acceptable to those who prowl around town for such purposes. These dearslevanted from Caversham on March 22 last, and as they did not turn up, their respective mothers had them; posted up as "missing friends." It was on Monday night last, (however, that the missing pair were discovered, aud m this sinful city, and according to Sub-inspector Q'Donovan there was little doubt as to tho manner m which the precotiibus missies earned a crust here. Johanna's mother, had come up from Caversham to^seefc hertiunnt daughter,. but without success. Her stepfather next took the job on hand, and he was not long m helping the police to lay hold of them. The pair had, during the fortnight spent m Wellington, HOPPED ALL OVER THE PLACE. They had put up at the White Swan Hotel, and had subsequently gone to the reside outat Petone. WJien the police got their optics on them on Monday evening, they were mashing "boys" m the vicinity of tho Te Aro railway bridge. One was on top, and another down-stairs, giggling guilelessly with blokes. Of course the giggles' disappeared when it oame to spending a night m the cells, and Johanna's red, swollen eyes amply testified to the tears that she had shed, though Vida was brazening it out and didn't seem to care a damn what happened. " Have you any relatives here ?" asked the Sub-Inspector of Johanna, who replied that she had an aunt m Tasman-street who had offered to find a place for her but wouldn't; take her m. She didn't want you there I suppose, did she tell you where to go to ? No. The step-father's version was a different one. It seemed the aunt offered to accommodate Johanna, but Johanna was a true pal and would not be ""accoihodated without Vid» and this tho aunt was not prepared to do. # The stepi-father offered to take his daughter back to Caversham and would pay her fare though he would not guarantee to do the same for Vida who was friendless, whose father was dead and whose mother went out to wdrk, and she had a brother of 19 years who went out working too. It was however arranged that Vida would go back to Caversham m Johanna's step-father's care and her mother if able would have to pay her expenses afterwards. The Magistrate convicted and discharged THE PAIR OF RUNAWAY GIRLS and threatened them with all sorts of pains and penalties if ever they appeared before him or any other Magistrate. Next it was suggested that the pair would have, to remain m the lock-up till they were taken to the boat on Tuesday evening, but the step-father wanted Ms girl, and as the beak thought it would be unfair to Vida- that Johanna should be allowed out, while she remained m, the step-fathqr offered to throw the mantle of his protection over Vida, if she was good, and Vida promised to be good. [ "If you are not" said the Magistrate, I "you will be sent- somewhere you won't like." " If theso girls slip you up " observed Dr. ! MoArthur, " call a policeman, and they I will be re-arrested and sent to the Te Orangi industrial school. It's a reformatory for bad girls, and you two are very bad girls indeed." Then Johanna and Vida. left.