"BIG BELLA."

NZ Truth, Issue 340, 30 December 1911, Page 6

"BIG BELLA."

BILKS BARRETT OF BOODLE*

Handed it Over to Hilditch.

Pair Committed for Sentence.

Isabella Plarringrton, alias Bain, known as "Big Bella," a young woman of large proportions, who claims to be still under 30* years of age, although one would judge her to be ten years older, neatly dressed, and wearing 1 a huge black straw hat profusely adorned with artificial pink flowers, presumably daisies, and sprays of grass, stood before. Mr, W. G.'Riddell, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court, on Thursday afternoon week, charged with, having stolen THE SUM OP £120 m notes from one George Bai'rett, at Wellington, on the previous Tuesday. Henry Hilditch, Isabella's "protector" (the correct word is not per'mis- ■', sible under the Indecent Publications j Act), a low-down looking individual, j 2S years of age, was also charged with (..having' received from Isabella the sum of £97 Is 9d, well knowing the same ! to have been stolen. ! .Chief -Detective Broberg conducted j the prosecution, both cases being taken together by consent, the two accused being 1 unrepresented by counsel. George Barrett, a thickset man of middle-age, recently employed at Whan- ' gamomona (m the back blocks of

J. B. Hine's electorate), arrived m Wellington at seven pjn. on Tuesday last, met* the female accused m Tory-street at ; 11 ; p.m., that! night, took her to supper, and- afterwards engaged a room at Cyide Court Private Hotel, where he went to bed -with the female accused m a muddled state. He had about "£ 120., iriv £ s ;. notes.; and some silver In his trousers pockets. Early the following- morning -he awoke and found the female 'accused had gone, and all his money was missing.; Betectives Kemp' and Rawle arrested the female accused who ' admitted her guilt and said she had given the money to Hiiditch, ■ • ;•:;::.-■ ; . : ■■- .... TELLmG-i 'HIM IT WAS /STOLENThey afterwards arrested the male accused, who- also admitted his guilt. He had £7 Is 9d m his possession when 3frar<s2ied f . •They'! had puroliased £9 odd worth of furniture and a considerp.hJe amblint of ' -wearing .apparel. Ninety ■ pounds -was recovered from a man named Bird, "to whom the detectives were referred by the male accused. ' ' .Both accused Tpleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for ; sentence. ;