Very Petty Larceny

Southland Times, Issue 13402, 13 March 1896, Page 3

Very Petty Larceny

Mr« Kate Henderson, who recently outraged tbe law of the land by marrying a yonog gentleman in Sydney without asking his papa, ban been convicted by a jury of unsympathetic malep, and is now poßeibly regretting her rash act. Unfortunately for ber the marriage ceremony was pi r formed in December, 1895, for if she waited until January 1896, she could have confuted all the impass'ont-d eloquence of the Crown prosecutor and all hiß fervent d«mands that the long arm of the law Bhouid puoiah the culprit by iimply remarking 'Le»p year.' Most oojs are apt to bsconiß 'rials, but in this case tbe anticipation w*s realised with startling completeness. Mro Hendereon'a trial has come in grim earnest, and even ihe heart of the presiding judge was touched by the sad plight of tue prisoner. To b< mairi dto a weak-minded you.h of 17 >vould be enough punishment for the most reckless criminal, but it Mrs Henderson really stole her husband sway from hiß parents' home it is difficult to see how any other charge to n that of petty larceny cculi properly be brought against her. Mrs Henderson most deplore the anomalous state of the law which declares that v man must be trud by bis peers but a woman must be tried by men. If a jury of matrons bad sat on her cuße, revitwed all the circumstances, and rtflocted that this is leap year, thoy would have acqailted bar without a stain upon her charactar. — Argue.