PORT CHALMERS POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12555, 8 January 1903, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS POLICE COURT.

i .WTOOTSD'W, JAUWAHY 7. ■ ' 1 (Beforb'MMsrs J. Thomson (Mdyor) arid J. Mill, I . J.P's.),' c Theft.—Kats Heath, a young girl of abont lS years of nge. was obliged, on remincl, Willi ■ stealing £2, the property of Mary Williams; her ' mistress, on tho. 31st ult.—The' accnscd. who ■ was defended by Mr Plaits, pleaded / Guilty."— ! Sergeant Geerin pointed out that the accused ■ \yas a domestic servant in tha emtiloy of Mrs 1 Williams, a storekeeper at Miliiwaka. On tho >. aist ult. Mrs. Williams left licr store for a ! little time, lesving in the till' a. fl-note and *, a sovereign (produced in- court!. On her tc--1 turn the money was missing, and suspicion fell " on some young men who were about the neigli- ' bourhood. This was repotfed to 'the policc, • and inquiry was'made. Tlie girl denied- all ' knowledge of tho theft-. After making other ' inquiries Constable M'Ouarric Qrrested tho ac- '' cused, who no* only admitted thp theft, but t pointed out to him a place in Mrs Wiljipms's • garden where she had conc°aled tho money.— 1 Mr "Platts, for accuscd, ; d she,admitted lier \ guilt, and deeply regreltfil liayiiiK given way. • to' temptation. Slio was but a child .he urged, '■ and not doubt seeing the monov .had been'imi' pel led by' a sudden temptation io possess her--1 self of it. She made no use of it, sipinly buried' | itj and was heartily sorrv. .The fact of ; her hav-. I ing been locked up in, Dunedin Gaol woiild be [ a life-long lesson fo her. and ho urged the bench 1 to deal leniently with her—Mary Williams deposed that the accused was in her employ on - December 31. She had beer with witness for 1 10 weeks on this occasion. Witness.had every 1 confidence ih.tlio pirl. and was,greatly as- ; tonished to find she had taken the'mohey.—By : Mf PUtts; Sho would ha' T e trusted tho girl with 1 anything, and had no wish to hive her punished; no doubt she'liad acter impulsively.. —Sergeant Geqrin pointed-ourtliat the,, girl had given the police all tha assistance in.'her power which lir-'J led to the recovery of'the ; moner.—Mr Platte asked tho bench to take amerciful viow of the case- tho girl was dimply sorry ot her rash- act and'its resnlts. and-he felt sure it would never occur 'again. He thought if their Worships convicted and discharged ths accused the ends of justice woubl be mot —Their Worships expressed their regret at seeing so young a person charged with so grave an offence, but. taking into consideration the character given her by Mrs Williams, her , age, and: her evident'sorrow-for her offence,. ■ they would convict and order her to coiue up 1 for sentence when called -upon.