DUNEDIN POLICE COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 65

DUNEDIN POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, October 26. (Berets Mr H. T. Widdowson, S.M.) Two Uncontrolled Girls.—Chars-.? of obtaining goods by false pretences on Oirtober 3 were advanced against Jeannie Dunn, aged, 19, and against a bright, fresh-look-ing girl of 15. The younger girl had bsen committed to the Salvation Army Home about a week ago for the theft of a gold ring. Jeannie Dunn pleaded " Not guilty." but her companion made a statement to Mr Widdowson which he accepted as a plea of " Guilty." —Sub-dnspector Phair stated that on the 3rd Inst, the two girls liad gone to the Dunedin Drapery Supply Company's shop in the Ootagon, where tha (girl Dunn asked for a pair of boots. By •representing that they had been sent with' the authority of the younger girl's mothel Dunn obtained a pair of boots valued at 19s 6d, and her companion two pairs ol hose valued at 5e sd. The younger girl r.igned heir name in a book to guarantee that genuine permission had been obtained from hor mother, but it was afterwards discovered that no 6uch permission had been given at all. —Evidence as to the representations made to thorn by both girls was given by Henrj. Simons, manager ol the Dunedin Dra'/ery Supply Company, and by_ D. Lewis. —Giving evidence on he* own behalf, Jeannie Dunn said she got tha. boots on the understanding that she would pay back her companion's mother when she got employment. She had come down; from Alexandra about 18 months ago to; learn dressmaking.—The other girl in evi< dence stated that they bad been going together for some time to weekly dances where girls were admitted tree. —Mr Widdowson said thero was no doubt that both the girls were equally guilty. Ho was quite satisfied that the younger one did not seem to realiso the seriousness of the position at all. She seemed to regard, the whole thing as a joke.—The Subs inspector submitted that the elder girl haxf been leading her. —In reply to his Worship, Jeannie Dunn eaid she hadt com© to Dunedin with her parents' consent. Hi* Worship examined the mother of tha younger girl as to how long she had been allowed to wander about the streets at night and what had been done to keep her at home. The mother eaid herdaUghtei had been going out for about a year, and they had thrashed her and coaxed her, and done all they could to keep hear at home. She was an obedient child in the house.—" The Magistrate commented very strongly on the influence of shilling dances on young people, remarking that it was no wonder they went astray. Ho did not intend that the younger accused should go up for a short period, and, after consultation with the Salvation Army adjutant, he decided to place her in the Salvation Army Home fof a period of 12 months. That would- give the officers some reasonable hon© of doing her some good. With regard to the olde* girl, he was prepared to believe this waa a first offence, and he would send be* tod. the Salvation Army Home for six months. Both girls were convicted, and ordered to como up for sentence when called upon on condition of their remaining in the Horn* for the allotted time. The father 'of tha younger girl was ordered to pav the valus of the hose, and the other girT to refund the value of the boots, if possible, from' her earnings later on. Towards the close both the girls broke down, and sobbed bitterly. They left tJne> court ia charge of the Salvation Army officer.

Friday, October 28. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) A Daring Thief.—Henry Dearman pleaded "Guilty" to a charge that, on September 22, ho did steal one rug and one cushion, valued' at £2 2s 6d, the property of his Honor Mr Justice Williams. —Chief Detective Herbert said that the accused was a prisoner serving sentence in Dunedin Gaol, and had been employed en the court premises. He had thus become acquainted with tho court precincts, and after he had served his sentence accused had entered the premises at night, tho door of a room being left open to allow members of the legal fraternity to visit tho court library, and stolen the articles mentioned in the charge. Later on, whilst accused was serving a sentence of three months for being- illegally on the premises at Peterson's store, ho was interviewed by Detective Mitchell. Accused then confessed t<! the detective that ho had stolen the gocxK and sold tliern to a sailor, who had sine* sailed for England. The sailor, however; had got drunk before going away, and had left tho articles in the train, whence they had found their way to the left* luggage office, and had been recovered. Accused was a native of England, and had previously been convicted of breaking and entering and other offences. He had only been four months in tho Dominion. On tho charge of breaking and entering accused had been ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and would be brought before the court for sentence after the expiry of his present term in gaol.— Accused was sentenced to throe months' imprisonment, with hard labour, to tako effect at the expiration of the sentence he was already serving.