NELLIE KOLLE'S KOSTUME

NZ Truth, Issue 725, 10 May 1919, Page 2

NELLIE KOLLE'S KOSTUME

A Grand Hotel Episode < Magistrate Censures a Detective. (From "Truth's" Dunedln Rep.) Though the gods have never seen Nellie Koll© m a skirt, it has been proved beyond dispute that she is the possessor of such, a garment. Magistrate Widdowson is aware of it; the police .are aware" of it; and, seeing' that a Grand Hotel housemaid knew of the skirt's existence, it is only right that the whole world should be fortified with the startling information that Nellie Kolle doesn't always wear trousers. Nellie hung her dress m a wardrobe of a . room m the Grand Hotel, where she made her- abode such times as she sang at the Princess Theatre. Last Monday, when packing up her bits and pieces .preparatory to leaving the dour city, , SHE MISSED THE DRESS, together with a Cameo brooch, valued at £2 25,; which had been fastened m the frock. Nellie at once introduced herself to a policeman, and Detective Hammerley was sent hot foot m search of this necessary adjunct to Nellie's street outfit; and, as a result of liis investigations, the dress, the brooch, and Vera Willis (recently housemaid at Paape's pubbery) all assembled at the court the following morning. * . <; , Lawyer B. S. Irvin, who appeared for Vera, a .well-set-up, attractive flapper of seventeen, entered a plea of guilty to the clerk's legally-worded insinuation that Vera had stolen the lately missing articles. Chief -Demon Bishop had very little to say m favor of Vera's .probity, veracity, and general integrity. When accosted by Demon Hammerley, she denied all knowledge of the missing property. It was only when the "D" threatened to search her room In her father's house at Burnside that she CONFESSED TO TION.Even then she strenuously disclaimed any acquaintance with the brooch, which was eventually located m the possession of a Mrs. Ross, a friend to whom Vera" had given it. About a year before, she had been employed by a Mrs. Sampson, of Abbotsford, and had taken away one of her mistress's dresses. She was then . cautioned. Mr. Irwin protested strongly against this line of prosecution. The accused had come by that dress honestly. The Chief -Detective: It was found m her. possession. She stole dt all right. Mr. Irwin: Why, then, didn't you j prosecute her? — >The complainant i didn't wish it. The girl was cautioned and was given a chance. The Magistrate: Who cautioned her? — Detective Hammerley. Mr. Irwin: I have yet to learn that Detective Hammerley has the right to go about cautioning people. Continuing, the Chief-Detective said that the accused was an untruthful girl, and was beyond her . mother's control 1 . She stopped out late at night. Her sister had got into trouble, and there was every possibility' that she would go the same way, . unless she were effectively checked. The Magistrate: You think she isdrifting?—Yes, your Worship. Mr. Irwin said that the girl had been TEMPTED BY THE FLASH APPAREL of this vaudeville artist. She didn't know the brooch was m the dress when she took it. When accosted by Detective Hammerley, she certainly denied the theft, but that did not prove that she was an untruthful girl. The mother was m a delicate state of health, and her testimony regarding the accused's behaviour could not be taken into account. If she were a man she would be given a, chance, but simply because the police said she was "drifting" she was to 'be. denied one. The accused's father said that the accused was all right. She spent all the money she earned, so far as he knew, though he thought she gave her mother a little, when asked for it. The only time she came home late at night was when she caught the last train after "the vaudie." Both his girls were under control, and he thought it a "bit hot" that this one should get into trouble so soon after the other one. The Magistrate said he would remand Vera until the Probation Officer furnished a report. The accused then left the box and went put, accompanied by the police matron. "Is she to be : REMANDED IN CUSTODY?" asked Mr. Irwin. . "No," replied the magistrate. "Well," said the lawyer, "Detective Hammerley has marched* her off to make sure that she is. When he arrested her he walked down the street with her, and with the stolen i garment over his arm," Chief -Demon Bishop: "Well, you don't expect us to go to the expense " Mr. Irwin: "Of a piece of brown paper?" ■ When the accused was brought back at the magistrate's command, she was admitted to bail m her own recognisance of £25 and one Burety of £25. "I want it to be strictly understood," said the magistrate, "that it is a highly improper thing to remove a prisoner before the full sentence of the court is passed, especially without instructions from a superior officer," . The accused came up on remand, last Saturday, and, at the magistrate's suggestion, both thefts were included m one charge. The Probation Officer's report, said His Worship, was to the effedt that Vera's general conduct was not regarded as being altogether satisfactory. A recommendation, however, had been made that she be given a chance on certain conditions, one of which' was that she should not remain m. her present home. The Probation Officer was of opinion that the girl was undoubtedly drifting. She would be ADMITTED TO PROBATION for a period of two years, during- which time she would be under the entire supervision and control of the Rev. F. G. Cumming. He could decide whether, it would be advisable for her to change her place of abode. In reply to Mr. Cumming, the Magistrate said that he. (Mr. Cumming) would be the girl's guardian for the term of her probation. 1 Chief -Detective Bishop then drew attention to the fact that an erroneous Impression had been created m the magistrate's mind regarding the cir- , cumstances attending the girl's arrest. Detective Hammerley . did riot walk, down the street with her, carrying the stolen garment over his arm. The detective had brought her from her home m a taxi-cab, right to the door of the police station. In justice to Detective Hammerley, ">Truth" has been asked to state that he had nothing whatever to do with the girl's hasty removal •• from the dock, a removal severely commented on by the . magistrate. . . ■ .i ' .' •