The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)(about) |
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Wednesday 20 January 1909
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4 corrections, most recently by John.F.Hall - Show corrections
IN THE POLICE COURTS.
–.–
YOUNG GIRL'S IMMORALITY.
At the St. Kilda Court yesterday, before Mr. Keogh, P.M., and the mayor (Councillor Jacoby), a young man named Henry Shadforth was charged with having committed on offence against a young girl, about 14 years of age, named Myrtle Gertrude De Moel. Mr. Field Barrett appeared for Shad- forth. The girl gave evidence to the effect that
she had run away from her parents, at 15 Vale-
street, North Melbourne. She met Gladys Mad- dox, 17 years of age, and they went to St. Kilda Beach. That night they met Shadforth and Bert Bell, who conducted a shooting gallery near Win- nicker's merry-go-round. They all slept in a waggon belonging to the men, and intimacy took
place. In the morning the two girls, Shadforth,
and Willie Maxwell rode in the waggon to Lily- dale, Bell going by train. Further acts of mis- conduct were alleged against Shadforth and Bell
at Lilydale, and again after the party returned to St. Kilda where they went to reside at 6 Pakington–street. To Mr. Barrett, De Moel stated that the reason why she did not return home was that she was afraid of getting a beat- ing from her father. In cross-examination she admitted previous acts of misconduct at South
Melbourne and Collingwood. She had told Mrs.
Thomson, at whose house she resided in St. Kilda, that she was 17. It was six or twelve months since she had first misconducted herself. Beyer De Moel, boot polish manufacturer, said his daugh-
ter was born at Adelaide on September 23, 1894.
Gladys Maddox also gave evidence. She said she was employed at 18 Alfred-street, North Fitzroy. She knew Myrtle De Moel. In reply to Sub- Inspector Canty she denied that misconduct took place in the waggon between Shadforth and the girl De Moel. With this answer it was decided to go no further with the case, Mr. Keogh re- marking that the girls appeared to have no respect for the truth. Shadforth was then discharged. A similar charge was also preferred against Bertram George Bell, defendant pleading not guilty, The case was dismissed without hearing evidence. The girl De Moel was then charged with bring neglected, and was remanded to appear at the North Melbourne Court.
Yesterday, at the Kew Court, George Taylor, whom Constable Loughlan heard make use of ob- scene language in Barker's road on the 16th inst.,
whilst quarrelling with another man, was fined £10, in default three months' imprisonment.