MAORI GIRL STEALS £l7

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 7

MAORI GIRL STEALS £l7

ENTERED FRIEND'S HOUSE

GAVE SOME TO RELATIVES

"She is a girl of tender years to commit an offence of this type," said Detective G. A. MeWhirter this morning when prosecuting a 10-year-old Maori girl, who was appearing before Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Children's Court on a charge of stealing £l7 in notes and money. The case was adjourned for a month, in the meantime the child being placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer.

The detective said that while the child was on her way to school on June 10 she entered a friend's house, knowing where the key was kept, and took the money from a cash box. Some time before she had been living at the house and knew where everything was kept. The girl gave away most of the money and spent most of the balance. At the time of the Offence the mother of the child was away at a native function and the girl was left in the care of another native woman, who appeared to take little care what the children did. The amount recovered was £5 Is lljd.

Appearing for the defendant, Mr. E. T. Brosnahan said that the child had lived at the house and knew the, man well from whom she took the money. There was no excuse for the girl taking the money and the mother had offered to repay the man as soon as she learned of the affair. Detective MeWhirter said that most of the money was given to relatives. The child gave about £3 to a brother, who was a little older than the defendant, and £2 to a young sister. She also gave £3 17s 6d to the woman who was supposed to be looking after her. She bought some expensive clothing with the balance. There was £ll 18s OJd to be refunded. Mr. Walton decided to adjourn the case for a month to see if the money was being repaid. He was unable to make an order against the parent.