WAITRESS’ CRIMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17236, 16 April 1930, Page 14

WAITRESS’ CRIMES

THEFT AND ARSON OUTBREAK IN HOTEL (Per Press Associution.) NELSON, last night. Doreen Rachel Mackay, 10, a waitress at the Junction Hotel, Takuka, was arrested 'by Detective t\ Sinclair and Constable Lake on Saturday afternoon last, and appeared at the courthouse, Takuka, charged with, on April 7, at Takuka, setting lire to certain substances and articles of clothing in the .Junction Hotel, rendering the building liable to catch tire. She was also charged with the theft of £l2 in money, and goods to the value of £ll 15s 6d, the property of Rona Cross, school teacher. Rona Cross gave evidence as to leaving the room at about 8 o’clock in the morning, and on returning in the afternoon she learned that a lire had taken place in her room, and that the bedclothes were saturated with kerosene. May Reilly, pantrymaid, said she sawsmoke coming out of the Window of Miss Cross’ room, and she immediately gave the alarm. Alice Herdman, licensee of the hotel, gave evidence of finding clothing burning. Detective Sinclair said he interviewed accused on Saturday afternoon when the. girl admitted taking the money and clothing belonging to Miss Cross, and also to putting kerosene in the bedroom and setting lire to it to cover her tracks. The detective produced the following statement by accused; ”On Monday afternoon I went into Miss Cross’ room, and took some of h<Jr clothing and £5. I was wanting a coat, and so took the money. I took the clothing from Miss Cross’ room, and put it in my case, and in the, evening 1 look some of the clothing and hid this outside. 1 threw the purse away, and kept the money. I put some kerosene in a. drawer and set fire to it.” Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme. Court at Wellington for sentence.