A PITIFUL CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7013, 31 January 1901, Page 2

A PITIFUL CASE.

CHILD OHA'RiiKD WITH STEALINGTWOPENCE. -DISMISSED (WITH A CAUTIONJ *:]. ["Stab" Special.] At the Police Court this morning, one of the most 'pitiful cases ever brought before the "Christchurch Bench was heaTd before •Mr J. Hamilton, J.P., und Mr T. Gapes, J.P. ■ Phoebe Garlick, a . forlorn-looking little girl of ten years, was charged wifcb having stolen two * pennies, the property of one Emily Wheeler. In! answer to the usual questions,, the child admitted taking the coins. . . . The Sub-Inspector . .stated that Mrs Wheeler, who kept ' a greengrocer's shop, ■had, some time ago, missed. two or three shillings from her till, a few days later she missed a half^peinaiy, and yesterday she had placed two marked .pennies in the <tiU.. These disappeared, and, upbni going outside her shop 'Mrs Wheeler saw the little girl charged, playing on the road with same others, and with the two stolem, pennies in her hand. Mi's Wheeler then sent for the police, and Detective Chrystal, arrived, upon which Mrs W'heieler gave the offender in charge. . . • The father of the child, who was in Court, on being questioned by the Bench, said he had wo idea that the child, had ever taken money from Mrs. Wheeler's till. The Sub-Inspector stated that the police had made inquiries, and found that the child had -not been going to. school. The mother' 'was away, and an elder sister was in charge of the house, so that the child ihad had more liberty 'than a)t might otherwise have done. The Chairman of the Bench (Mr J. Hamilton, J.P.) addressing the child said: " You ' mustn't go to tills or you will getsent to Lyttelton and locked up there' Addressing the father he said: "You must send this child to school and ; keep her out of mischief. The case will be dismissed.' It seems from enquiries made by a representative ;of this paper, that the child's mother, a cripple, is at present at Hanmer Springs, and the family, ten in number, ..are thus, while the father is away at work, under no particular control. The child, when arrested yesterday, was minus boots and stockings and an object of pity. Detective Chrystal, upon arresting the child, immediately sent for the father, and after the charge 'ihad 'been entered at the police station he was allowed to take the child away. The charge was made out as a theft of twopence 'because that was the only amounti-egardinig which evidence could be wroduced. Inspector Ellison states that the father had desired that the child should be sent to the Industrial School, but 'he stated he would not Jbe able to pay for 'her. keep there. Notwithstanding" tliese circumstances, it surely was not a ; case for the Court. Detective "Chrystal was, of course, obliged to arrest" under the cimimstanoes, when the child was given in charge, but he would surely -have done better if he had sent for. the father' to come. to Mrs Wheeler's shop and recommended ,, Mrs Wheeler to withdraw the charge upon condition that the child received a whipping and the prosecutor would have done well ■to have seen, that the child received some correction without referring the ease to the police.