Alleged Theft of Jewellery

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1130, 27 October 1904, Page 3

Alleged Theft of Jewellery

A Pathetic Case

At the Magistrate's Court yosterday after" noon A ohargo of theft, profcrred Bgainst a young woman named Caroline Collins, was heard before Mi Bush, S.M. Tho sconsod, a dolicate-looking girl of rather rafined features, appeared in Conrt with an infant of a fow weeks' old in her arms. Sho was attended by Mrs Hutohinson, matron ol the Door of Hope Rescue Institution, Auckland, Tho aoousod girl sat motionloss during tho hoaring of the evidence, aud in answer to the formal greeting of the magistrate at the oonolusion of each witnoss's evidenoo as to whothor she had any question to ask, sho replied " No" in a scarcely audible voice. The acouaed, remanded from Auckland, was charged wilh the theft from tho premises of Phillip Orchard, of Waihi, of a gold ring valued at £ls, gold pin valuod at £3, and a oribbage board valued at Bs, on 6th July lust year. Sergeant Shoohan, who conducted tho esse on behalf of the polioc, stated that the theft had been committed bv the accused when in tho employ, in July 1908, of Phillip Orchard, At die tiino the accused was unsuspoetod of having anything to do with ihe theft. Six weeks later the accused loft the employ of Orchard and went South, Later sho came to Auckland, and thorc admitted the theft, and assisted in the recovery of the gold ring, She was then in a critical stato of health,

Philip Orchard, examined, deposed that ho Knew tho accused, She entered his employ in July, 1908, and remained about six wooks. His wife was at tho time laid up, and oocußcd had the run of tho house. About this time ho missed from his house a gold pin, gold ring, and a cribbago board, vhich he valued at £l3 Bs. Ho repotted the matter lo tho police. Ho told the accused ilm; if the articles takon woro returned nothing wou'd be said about it. The acouscd in reply said that tho girl who would tike them must bo a bad girl, Sho referred tolhc girl whoso placo she had taken. Tho stolen ring (produced in Court) witness valued at 115.

The accused hnd no questions to ask. Mrs. Orchard corroborated the evidence of tho previous witnoss. Mrs, Louise O'Brion, sister of tho aceusod, deposed that blio saw the rius; on ber sister's finger, and whon she left Wailii her sister left tho ring at witness' house. She (witness) found it in hor box, John O'Brion deposed that he saw accused woaring a ring similar to tho one produced 'n Court. Ha remembored a conversation with Sergeant Bhootmn, ns the outoome of which witness went to To Aroha to got tho ring in question. He nturned to Waihi with it the next day, and handed it over to Sergeant Shoehan. Patrick KoDnudy, dotcotive, of Auckland, deposed that he saw tho nconscd at the Door of Hope, Cook-street, Auokland. He told her sho was suspected of thoft, from Orchard's, at Waihi, Fo asked her about thorin?, and she replied that sho had taken it, and that she had given it to her Bister, Mrs J. O'Brien, Waihi. The pin she said sho had lost, and tho other things had been roturned to Orohard, On tho Bth inßti ho (witness) arrested her on a charge of theft, to wbioh sho made no reply, Sho pleaded guilty and was committod for trial before tho Supreme Court, Mrs Annie Hutchinson, matron of tho Door of Hope, Auokland. who had taken the girl into the shelter of tho Home, and who was present in court, went bail for tho aoousod in ft surety for £SO, and stated that she would oontinuo to take oaro of her in the Homo.