A VICTIM OF BEER.

NZ Truth, Issue 170, 19 September 1908, Page 6

A VICTIM OF BEER.

Gets Another Chance.

: The craving -for beer is really a disease that wall be medically treated Vby the State one of these days,. Edith Matheson Malzard is , a Christcburch person whose appetrte for hops has been responsible for a few criminal acts m her career, but away from aicohoiic influence she is said to have an, affectionate, law-abiding disposition. , Some time m the past an infant child of Edith's died 1 through Khe neglect of its another, who went out on a wild debauch and permitted the youngster to qualify jfor, a harp and wings with the cherubim; and: seraphim. It) was then recognised • that the beer-cria;Ving was ingrained , 'in the woman's system and that she ■ absorbed liquid from the prtblic-house with . an eagerness and disaster of a diabetes patient lapping up sugar. Edith has brevken out periodically ever pince and would imbibe methylated spirit or distil alcohol from potatoes, if she couldn't yet! it any other way. When m. this condition she loses her moral sense, and goes to blazes, m a manner of -speafcmg, with; rapidity and enthusiasm. There is a prohibiinon order current against her, but prohibition is useless "m a case of this kind-. Edith visited Qeorgina Eticb- at St.^ Albans m a state of "beer, apd stole 4s for the purpose of procuring more beer. While the police were scouring the coun-' try ifor her Edith dropped into Mary-Oal* l lan s at,. Addington :. / - WlT^[ : A 2000-HDRfSE POWER: : THIRST, and stole 255, whici she liquidated m the usual manner ; then; she made up aparcei! of various articles, of ciothing and jewellery, with a view to converting it into swankey, and ran into the police. Wherefore she later answered charges of drunkenness, breach of prohibition order, and two. of theft. "The same old thing, I suppose," remarked; Magistrate Bishop, . wearily. Sergeant Johnston confirmed his Worship's suspicions about the elemen£jof beer m the /case- . Missioner Small remarked that} the Harmy 'Ome people were willing to take woman, but his Woiv, ship was constrained to remark, "She is a hopeless case ; an absolutely irresponsible dipsomaniac." However, he gave her a chance, although her retirement from •the temptations of the city must be prolonged. *■: A sentence of twelve months' imprisonment was imposed, to be suspended service and .knee drill at Booth's^ blooming institution for that period. ( i