THAT SUMNER SENSATION.

NZ Truth, Issue 135, 18 January 1908, Page 5

THAT SUMNER SENSATION.

a WAS THE GIRL TO BE BELIEVED? What Were the Police Doing? i . " Truth " Tells a Few of the Awful Facts. "A Sumner Sensation" was the heading over a recent article published m '".truth." No names were mentioned, but the facts were pretty stifi. It may be remembered that three young Christchurch fellows went to camp at Sumner, and by some means they induced a young girl to share their temporary quarters. She was under the age of consent, but is now past the sixteen-year-old stage. However, it was a case for the police to take up, but they wouldn't do so. The alleged reason why was because m the opinion of Inspector Mary Ann Gillies, or some subordinate, or the cook at the 'Police Station, the girl was absolutely unreliable. What that has to do with the matter isn't visible or apparent to anybody who is acquainted with the facts of the case. Certain .admissions have been made, and they should fit the changes. The girl was undoubtedly., ravished - and lived m that Sumner camp for the lest part of a week, where thVee lustful youths were enjoying themselves. The girl was 'hen a trifle ovei fifteen and may have been rather precocious, but the evidence obtained by writer is all the other wav about. The girl had been led astray, having no mother to look after he. and as she didn't know her own mind die was easy. The girl's name is Louie Porter, dan/ -liter of Mr Harry Porter, who is emnlo^rd by the Christchurrn City Council, and who is generally esteemed. Her mother is m- t.bo Sunnvside Asylum, and seems likely to remain there. ""Mob is unfonumate. ' A '-iri left mostly to X"v own devices •"» 11 day is apt to go wrong if she ;bec r-»? Ac- ". va in ted with . inde:>ir;iWk. rbav-acters. Mr Porter hi "Ives a f i-.' named T**l!iot for a heap of .trouble. "TTis daugbter.be says^ x\s--.d tp "'P*' o.ut of her bedroom window at.' vin-ht v-hen 'lie thought she v^ss .trlpph j.pid "oftm t l -- s-tre'v' until alt hours. Of course he -only, .found . 'Kjs out bit-'b". One mornipg she left liomo iltogetber. Jt v. .is- very early, about 5. 15/ m fa^t "•lion .'. ..-■.'■'.'' 7.7 p\-p FATTTT^R TUTRc<pr> ty™-r? lie had had his :sii.sul>.-ion*s the' i»reviou's" ni^bt about her . aCaiuUluaa conduct, and* tool:' her best (.lothed 1 away from her on th-0 Jftght pre. ama. But her old ton* ivete v-obd uAough for her, and o_t riiie went through her btruroom window.' i ; J w .si came across a trio -he afterwards 'Camped with writes: -Won't j. -„-, fmt » has got their ..unes iie\erih/Uss. i hey are Lenley, who drives a gtocor's e-irt ; Tun-ell, and C". Kuo.<( t-hc lost two livin:,. m- or .-near' Wools-ton. Tl.e pivl was ' found at Si>mnej- , by her father-, m a 1-ent me ev.ivi'ng - f er tea: He had- his evening friea! with Mr Georpe BTar.ey, who _ ;. ouipanicd him m the quest for a daughter, j c -ningly had an. idea w-heie the j-i-1 —an infatuated g-iil with, Utile or uo sense of respon^'-niity— was located, but he failed to catch tlie' three c - cupants of tlie te-n-t together. When POii,-er went .3 long and bpem-'d the flan of V- tent, he found young Turrell with his arms around his daughter's nek, so he alleges, and he rushed m. What was about to hapneij may only be surmised. The counlc were very naturally much surprised,' and when Porter asked the name of the contemptible cad he said it was Jones-, or Johnston, or som^tMng of that f?ort. At any rate, when Porter and Blazey turned into 'the tent he let. go his infantile inamorata and started to evade "iiestions. This was not eUopethefc possible, but he tried 'it until bowled out. When the aggrieved father lifted his fist to strike. the sc>d, Blazey stopped him and told hitp to hvwe the swine alone. . He didn't want to see the young fellow hit. Whereupon Porter • took 'bis dau-ghter outside and then started to slit the tent like blazes It was as much as he could do. Tbein he took the daughter, whimpering td town m the tram and delivered her at the police station. Prom there she was sent to the Oranga Home, but prior to that Porter had her examined by Dr. Svmes, who said that THE GIRL HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH rather badly, and that .she had long lost her innocence. The four days and nights she had m that camp at Rurqtner, Louie Porter will, no doubt remember all the days of her life, whatever a kind of life it may be.. It may be stated right heie that Turrell was the only person m the tent vvhen the father found her, the other two chaps Trot then having arrived from town.. But Henley's father -has had a pretty hot interview with his son, and has expressed regret to the injured father for what has happened. Likewise,. Turrell's brother has called on Mir Porter and expressed similar sentiments. He hoped their mother wouldn't ( hear of Hie scandalous aSair. As for Knox, who. was alleged to be the third man m the tent, well, writer doesn't know extra much about him, but what he does know isn't worth publishing. ■•"'.' A few words now as to the escape of the girl Louie from her home. Her father early m the morning went to Catherine Elliott's place, so he alleges, and > entered. The two girls screamed and said he had given them such a fright. Asked where his daughter was, and Catherine, so it ,is alleged, said she would take her dying oath Louie wasn't m the house. She hadn't seen her for three weeks. But the father knew better than that and CALLED HER AN ABOMINABLE LIAR, which was straight, anyhow. When tbe girl's abode was discovered and .she was asked by her father if she was m Catherine's place that particular morning, tbe giii admitted that she was planted under the .bed at tlie time. So much for veracity. However, the father complained at the .Christchurch Police Station about the absence of his girl and be said be thought he knew where she was, but when the peelers went to the bouse of the girl mentioned—and she is only 17 years of age— they ''0"l--'n't find her : they ••• -re pent away villi a sof' au^v.-i v "•' v. .-n---'■O'i- * ]-;■{. fl--, J .Tf ' ' '! )::s - ' man. He went i.v !■!»■- v *'>' ; «*e sl-.iiion