A PATHETIC CASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16542, 9 January 1928, Page 3

A PATHETIC CASE

WOMAN B.A. IN COURT 1 FALL OF TALENTED WOMAN I .The pathetic sight in tho flock at the '! Dunedin Police Court, on a. fharge of being idle and disorderly, of a- woman I who holds a University degree, and has occupied, responsible positions in both State and secondary schools, gave Mr. : Bundle, K.M., a difficult case to deal with. Tho .offender’s name was Jardme Spencer. • In answer to the charge she replied, in a cultured tone, “Not guilty, absolutely.” “This is a most pathetic case,” said Ensign Coombes. “i have kpowp of it for about 12 months. It is the story of tho fall' of a beautiful and talented woman. She is now weak, suffering Troth I skin trouble, and is not abte to look after herself or to resist temptation.,. I was called to a room, where she was lying. She had threatened to coihinit 'siiioide. I found her in a sad condition, and sent for a doctor, who had her removed to the hospital. He said her trouble was serious. Next morning she left the hospital against his wish. I would ask that she receive - medical attention. The Magistrate: Has she been drinking? . .. Ensign Coombes: Yes, sir; heavily. She said the.woman had a craving for drink, which she could not resist. In reply to' Senior-Sergeant Quartermain, Ensign Coombes said the woman was not in a lit condition to work. A person had told her he was paying for .her room. j “I wish to state I did not threaten to iconimit suicide,” said accused. “I was j working as a weaver till three weeks .ago. Then I had this skin trouble. 1 'saved enough money while 1 was working ito'pav for my room during all this fijyie'. | The statement that somebody’else paid .for it is absolutely untrue. 1 have been jablo to support, myself absolutely.. I -still [have sufficient money till I go back to iivork. I have over £9.” Asked were the £9 was, accused said it was with her belongings at the room where she stayed. It- was incorrect to | say she could not support herself. She had probably taken drink to drown her cares, and was quite willing to take out a prohibition order. Krifcign Coombes: The lady of the lioiiso said someone was paying for her room. Accused : A man gave mo nourishment and fruit when I was sick, but be did not pav for my room. She admitted'that she had beeu previously convicted of drunkenness. She denied that she was with semi-drunken men yvjiep had ,a, B. A; degree, and hud-'-been oil-the-teach-ing staffs of State and secondary schools. She 'taftffi to Diffiiediii tdlAke dp a posh’ Lion at a. college. _ ' At this stage the., magistrate decided that accused should l)c allowed to go for her £9. in company with Ensign Coombes and the policd. matron!: Qn'their return to Court it was stated that accused had not obtained the money. Accused said she had; given the money to a man to keep for r ,her. ip Ciiso she had not'd for it. 110 ‘ now stated 'that he 1 would not give her the money,'Because it would not be for her good. Sho was willing to go to the hospital and bo treated. S Senior-Sergeant Qtmrtermain said that accused’s people were highly respectable, hut, they could do not hing with her. .She had broken their hearts, and they had abandoned her. i , Ensign Coombes said the skin trouble "'as serious. For the salco of the woman herself and for the sake of the.public something should be done.' ’ The magistrate remanded accused for a medical examination. i