MAKING A BAD START.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15131, 27 January 1917, Page 9

MAKING A BAD START.

A YOUNG GIRL'S ESCAPADE. The escapade of a young girl of 16 provided some rather unusual incidents in a public street in Palmerston in earlier part of the week. Being un-' fortunately a victim to appropriating other people’s property witnout their permission, she appears to have run amok in a mad riot of theiving, among tne articles purloined being a skirt and blouse, me dainty holdiay apparel, of friends she had visited. With visions of aoliday carnivals in view, the owner of tne clothing was naturally very wrath, and determined to retrieve her property. .The culprit, quite unaware that retribution was on her track, was disporting herself in her borrowed plumes in the vicinity of the Square. The theft was reported to the police, and shortly after tne owner reappeared and informed the guardians of the law that the missing blouse and skirt enclosing the slender form of the “wanted” party were visible on the horizon. As the, members of 'the force had departed to attend different functions in the country, the solitary official in charge said he cou)d not leave the station. “Well, Til bring her in myself,” said the owner, and, departing, overtook the victim in Rangitikei Street. Here an argument appears to have ariseq, and the girl was promptly run into* a right-of-way, divested of her borrowed clothing, and given a dust-coat fis a temporary protection. She was then sent home, the owner of the coat following up at a handy distance in the rear to ensure recovery of her property. But the party in the rear had still a little to learn. On reaching her home the girl disappeared down a passage, and the next thing the surprised visitor saw was someone clad in a familiar-looking dustcoat scaling a neighbouring fence, one gave chase and overtook the quarry at the next fence, where her foot had become entangled. The pursuer hauled her back in rather undignified fashion The coat was recovered and the breathless owner departed satisfied that at least she had recovered all of her property. The scene was then changed to the Fcxton races, where the cause of all the trouble betook herself next day, and finding herself short of cash, “lifted” a handbag containing £1 16s 6d. This proved her- Waterloo; she was "spotted” and handed over to the police. The accused duly made her appearance before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the Palmerston Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon. Detective-Sergeant Quirke prosecuted, and said there was a list of five charges against accused, committed during the last few days, as follows;—(1) At Foxton did steal a handbag, containing ill 16; (2) at Palmerston did steal a blouse valued at 15s; (3) at Palmerston did steal a black leather purse containing the sum of 4s; (4) at Palmerston did steal a skirt valuedmt ill 15s; and (5) did steal 7s 6d in money. The deteceive said the girl had visited the homes of most of the people concerned as a friend and during the owner’s temporary absence took the articles. The accused had committed a theft of £5 in December last at Hastings, and seemed to be out of her parents’ control altogether. They were willing that some form of restraint should be placed upon her. The Industrial Schools Act, 1908, would permit of this being done. His Worship: You are making a bad start, but it is imperative that some deterrent should be placed upon, you for your own sake. You will be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and at the expiration of that term, his Excellency the' Governor will be asked to transfer you to an Industrial School under Section 25 of the Industrial Schools Act, 1908.