A PECULIAR CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 953, 25 April 1889, Page 13

A PECULIAR CASE.

On Saturday morning a respectable looking young girl named Margaret Stewart was brought before Messrs G. Penwick and G. P. I?arquhar» J.P's., ab the City Police Court on six charged of stealing, to all of which she pleaded guilty. Chief-detective Henderson* said that tbfi young woman had be»: n having a wonderful time of it. She VV t d bepn going round the boardfng houses, ' M d her plausible manners and general appearance had favourably impressed the people to whom she had been. She had gone to house after house and represented that she had come from Lawrence, and required lodging. This was usually done of an evening, when the large passenger trains had arrived. She^ would state that her things were at the station ; and after staying a short time would leave, and something always left with her. She would then go to another house, and there leave some of what she had taken from the last place. She appeared to have made a regular trade of it for the last 12 days, over which time the oharges extended ; and the cautions, subtle oianner in which she set to work was remarkable. Ha (Chief-detective Henderson) said it was tb© most extraordinary case that had ever come under his notice. The girl was arrested in Clarke street on Saturday morning, and then persisted that her name was Wilson, and that} she came over from Melbourne in the Rotomahana; but he (the detective) was aware of her real name, which was Margaret Stewart. She had, however, called herself Brown, Jones, And Robinson. Her father, who wa& a wellknown settler at Saddle Hill, had lost sight of her for some time, and about a month ago was searching for her, but never discovered her whereabouts. She appeared ift have called! wherever the sign of "board and residence," had been seen by her. The clothes she wor/j ab that moment were all stolen. ' . The Bench inquired if the parents had been communicated with, to which Chief-detective Henderson replied " No," but that the constable at Green Island could be instructed to call on them at once. The Bench said that under the circumstances it would be better to r en; and the case until this could be done, and it was accordingly remanded to Tuesday. On Tuesday Mr Stewart, who is a settler at Saddle Hill, said he was prepared to take oharge of his daughter again. He wa» very sorry at the disgrace which had fallen on lis family. Accused had a very comfortable home. He thought his daughter would stop at home if she was dealt leniently with by their Worships.-Mr Phillips, gaoler, said he had spoken to accused and brought her before the surgeen, who considered she was quite responsible for her actions. From what she had said to him (Mr Phillips) he did nob think she would be willing to go hora«.-in reply to the tench, accused said she was quite willing to .return £.« /J 1 ? 111 !," they would deal leniently with her.— Ohief-detective Henderson said the goods had mostly been recovered. Accused had no! sold any of them.—Accused intimated that she had no. money, and the Bench said tnat, reviewing the circumstances of the case, they were not disposed id* inflict a penalty if she would go home. Mr Stewwfc,. with whom they sympathised, had expressed his/, willingness to f a* e her borne, and on his entering: into, his rt own rec^gn'sanee of £10 for her Suture* appearance «he would be discharged*.— Ditghareadt' RstoKdUJglyt " . < * ■ ' -.»-**"•' ft