A SORDID STORY.

NZ Truth, Issue 882, 21 October 1922, Page 5

A SORDID STORY.

Addicted to Drugs.

A sordid story was unfolded to the Auckland Court last. Thursday, when Violet May Hughes, a« married woman, admitted stealing several pieces of furniture of no very great value. The evidence of the police was that the furniture had been stored at the accused's home, 'but she was a drug' fiend and had sold the -furniture m order to buy drugs. Adjutant Gordon, of the Salvation Army, and Probation Officer for Females m Auckland, said that she had done everything 1 possible for the woman, and Dr. Maguire had had her. placed on Pakatoa Island, but owing to her husband's pleading for her to be allowed to come back home again and given one more chance, she had been released. As it turned out 'it was a mistake to allow her to leave the Island so soon, because she continued to take drugs, and had even disposed of the children's clothing to get MONEY FOR DRUGS. The Adjutant said the woman's home was m an awful state, and was the saddest m Auckland. The case was a very pitiable one, as the woman was expecting: another child m September. The drug habit; had got hold of her, and she could not break it. "Her husband is a hard-working 1 man, and m good employment," added the Adjutant. "Poor man, it is /a very sad case," commented Mr. Poynton. "The husband does not give her his money now," said Adjutant Gordon, "so she takes anything she can lay hands on and sells it. She is hopelessly addicted to drugs, and cannot help her-se-lf now." ; His Worship said it w?is a MOST UNFORTUNATE, CASE, but the bost thing to do would be to place her on probation for three years, the. two first years to be put m on the Island. However, she would not go to the Island till after the child had been born, and m the meantime she would be under the care of Adjutant Gordon, who would, if possible, see that the woman did not indulge m any drugs.