SHATTERED ROMANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 1

SHATTERED ROMANCE

Eloped from Christchurch

YOUNG COUPLE IN COURT Both Admitted to Probation WHEN their parents refused them permission to marry, Eric Neville Hill and Mavis Good, both aged 19, left their Christchurch homes and eloped to Auckland. Their elopement ended abruptly this morning when they both appeared at the Police Court on variijus charges. Good was admitted to probation for three years and Hill for two years, and restitution of amounts totalling £l6 17s lid was ordered.

Through Mr. Fawcett, Mavis Good, an attractive and well-dressed girl, described as a shop assistant, pleaded guilty to incurring a debt of £6 17s lid with Smeetons, Ltd., thereby obtaining credit by fraud. Two further charges of stealing money and tickets totalling £7 9s 5d from a theatrical firm were withdrawn by Chief-De-tective Hammond, when pleas of not guilty were entered and summary jurisdiction elected on the first charge. ELOPED FROM CHRISTCHURCH “The girl eloped from Christchurch with a young man named Hill,” said the chief-detective. “Their parents refused them permission to marry and they lived here in Auckland as man and wife. Ths girl, who was a theatre usher for a while, lias incurred debts totalling £7O in Auckland by representing herself as being married to Hill, and that he was taking charge

of an important cabaret to be opened shortly.” The debts were mostly for drapery and groceries, said Mr. Hammond, though Good had also incurred a debt of £lO for board. Chief-Detective Hammond said that accused had on one occasion asked Good to get a loan from anywhere, as he was going to a cabaret party. In the witness-box the chiefdetective said that the girl had obtained the groceries to feed both accused. In a statement made to the police by Hill, he said they had been living in a flat as a married couple. “NO MONEY OR PROSPECTS” “They left the flat owing rent, cleaning costs and the electric light bill,” said Mr. Hammond. “They have neither money nor prospects now. When the creditors called for money they locked themselves in the flat.” Hill was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution of £6 17s lid. Mr. Fawcett said the girl was not a loose character. Hill’s parents had telegraphed from Christchurch asking that he be returned there. • He had been -working, but had lost his job at a theatre. “Probation would meet the case of the girl,” said counsel. “Her mother is an old-age pensioner, and can do nothing for her, but if she is returned to Christchurch also, she will be looked after.” Major Annie Gordon supported counsel, but said that restitution of the money owed to the boardinghouse proprietress should be ordered. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: Very well. She is convicted and admitted to probation for three years. In the .meantime she is to remain in charge of Major Gordon and restitution of £lO is to be made as the probation officer may direct. Hric Neville Hill was then placed in the dock. Described as a caterer, aged 19, lie pleaded not guilty, through Mr. Hall Skelton, to being idle and. 1 disorderly, with insufficient means of support. WEALTHY PARENTS “He comes of an eminently respectable and wealthy Christchurch family, who ask that he should, be sent back,” said Mr. Skelton. “He fell in love with this girl and the upshot of this youthful romance was that, when they were not allowed to marry, they eloped. He has had a job here, but as the man for whom he worked j went bankrupt, lie lost £2O in wages | owing to him.”