“OFFENCE WAS CAUSED BY HER MOTHER’S POVERTY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18623, 27 November 1928, Page 9

“OFFENCE WAS CAUSED BY HER MOTHER’S POVERTY.”

GIRL WHO OBTAINED CREDIT BY FRAUD

A nineteen-year-old girl was charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning with obtaining credit to the extent of £5 4s 3d from a grocer by fraud. Mr E. D. Mosley heard the case, Chief-De-tective Carroll prosecuted, and Mr Raphael appeared for the accused.

The accused was remanded so that Ensign Newton, Female Probation Officer, might inquire into the circumstances. The name was suppressed in the interim.

“Accused represented to the grocer that she was a Government employee, and obtained credit,” said the ChiefDetective. “ He afterwards asked for payment, but she put him off with one excuse and another, saying that her father and mother had gone away for a few days. Hansen inquired, and found that the accused’s father was long dead.” “Accused is onlv nineteen and this is the first time she has been before the Court,” said Mr Raphael. “ Her mother is almost starving. I ask for leniency, and for the suppression of the name.

“ The people are desperately poor,” continued counsel, “ and the girl got the goods by fraud in absolute despera-

“ I don’t like admitting to probation people who obtain credit by fraud,” said the Magistrate, “ but this girl is very young, and it is her first offence. There have been far too many offences of this type in the last two months. I will suppress the name in the interim, but it is not probable that I will suppress it wholly.”