ROBBING A SAMARITAN.

NZ Truth, Issue 250, 9 April 1910, Page 6

ROBBING A SAMARITAN.

SHE TOOK THEM IN

And They Reciprocated.

Eva Haslett, care of Governor" Iron-> sides, Lyttelton Gaol, looks like one of those females of weak character who will ever be at the mercy o£ some worthless villaiu. Perhaps under happier circumstances — but what is the good of moralising ? She struck a bad lot when she picked up George Moore, who is also known ; to the police as Johnston, and it didn't cause anybody particular astonishment when the two were charged, m Christchurch S.M.s Court, with breaking and entering, on March 17, sacred to the memory of one Patrick of IrelaHfl. Mrs Ellen Baillie, a loquacious lady, who resides at 12 Chester-street, toon: Haslett, Meore, and a Mrs Aubrey m, ■ out of pure . benevolence, as they had j been burnt out. "I gave them shelter," : she said. Her philanthropy didn't last over one night, however, and the trio .. were requested to disappear. Mrs Aubrey^ took the hint. but Eva resented the" marching orders, although she finally said au revoir. Mrs Baillie was not acquainted with unsober people, and could, give no clue to , Eva's ' condition at the tiihe. The two left on the morning of St. Pat's Day, and on the same "afternoon Mrs Baillie- went out for an hour.The front door was closed, s but unlocked, and the back door, m the absence of a lock, was secured by a nail m the wall. When she returned at 4.45 p.m. she found both doors wide open, also the door of her son's bedroom, but missed nothing at the time. Next morning.: it was discovered that a gold chain, a pendant, silver matchbox and tobacco pouch, the property of her son, Fredericfc Charles Townsend, and valued roughly at a fiver, had disappeared. Lawyer tfaathem appeared for the ac- > cused, and cross-examined. "Were you and she drunk together ? — •No. (The witness was almost speechless with indignation.) Did you send for a bottle of "whisky ? - (If a look of withering scorn could kill, there would be a lawyer less m Christchurch to-day.) Magistrate Bishop : Never mind looking so indignant. Answer the question. , Mrs Baiilie (•bridling) : There was never a bottle 1 of whisky m my house.' You knew who had been m the house ?— No ; I thought it was one of my grandchildren. There was a child asleep m the house when I j left, and it was asleep when I returned. ; Mrs Florence Hill, a neighbor, who had just preciously appeared as a witness m another case; saw two women and a man talking near the Baillie establjtshment. One of the females moved away and rtihe other two entered the premises.' Florence didn't see them come out again, and she couldn't identity them, with lie two accused, although she de-r scribed the dress of the woman minutely. (The difference between a woman and a man is that the man looks at awofmatfs 3&ce— and ankle, if it is visible— the .woman at her dress.) Frederick Chas. Towasend described Mb loss. 'Tecs- Ward and Gibson arrested Eva on a charge of vagrancy. She was . full of. ink at the time, and denied knowledge of the robbery. She acknowledged visiting the house with Moore and finding 3io one at home. When they left, JftooTe showed her a watch chain, which he said he had pinched on the premises. , Moore, was then nabbed by the '"tecs. and was actually 'wearing the chain when arrested. He explained that he hadpnr-.: chased it at an unspecified place some ' years ago. ' At this stage, Magistrate Bishop ssid/j there x wss no case against Eva, and das- . charged her, but she was held by the police xm a vagrancy information. The S.M. asked Chief Detective Bishop if it was intended to persevere with the breaking and entering informatianjin view of the fact that the' front- door was unlocked and the house open to whomsoever might enter. If that was his • intention his Worship wonld dismiss the case. If the information were reduced to one of theft he would deal with it himself. The police consented to the rednction, and Moore, on the advice of his solicitor, pleaded guilty. / His record showed a previous conviction for breaking and entering, and theft, and he' was sent into retirement for another period of six months. Eva Haslett was then charged with being an idle "and disorderly person^ and' pleaded guilty. Mr Leatham. said she was convicted m Auckland eighteen months ago for a similar offence, and since that time had only one convection for drunkenness. The lady T&ailed from pawky Dunedin, where heE 'husband obtained a decree of divorce. Jrom her. She had been drinking ever since that momentous event. His Worship : Has she been on thei streets ? The Chief 'Tec. : Yes, sir. What is the association with this man ? Is he living with her ?— Yes. Mr Leathern said she had friends m ,Dunedin, to whom she would be sent if given a chance. His Worship : A woman like this isn't going to reform by going to another city. 'T,he Bench remarked that Eva had been sent to tfaeSalvarmy Home for six months. A Booth female present said that Eva didn't desire to remain with the Harmy. Mr Leathern pnt m an urgent appeal for another chance. The SIM. remarked that slie had had. ,her chance. Apparently she had spent six months m the Salvarmy Home m Auckland. The large drum representative explained that Eva was sent, to the Home for .six months, but didn't remain more than a week. The S.M. : Three months, with hard labor.