"JOY RIDE" CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 6

"JOY RIDE" CASE.

TWO GIRLS IN A TAXI. 'STORY TOUD IN COURT. In the Magistrate's Court at Christeluircih on Saturday last, before Mr. T. A. R. Bailey. S.M.. Thomas Patrick Heade and -lame- William Salt were jointly charged that on June 14th. 1914, at Eaiapoi. with intent to annoy, they administered a noxious drug, to nit, whisky to a girl under 13 years of age. Mr. Op mid y appeared for the accused Heade. and Air. _M. Donnelly for the otlier arrayed. Sub Inspector Melvinnon prosecuted. 'THE CiIRL IN THE CASE." 'Winnie Williams said sh e lived with her mother at Sydenham. On Sunday. June 14th. she went out for a " taxi " ride with the two accused, leaving Hereford Street ill Salt's ear at 2.45 p.m.. Eva 'AlcKenzie accompanied her, and Salt and Heade were also in the .party. They drove to the Excelsior 'Hotel, where 'Heade got out of the car. went into the •hotel, and came 'back with a bottle of whisky. They then drove to Kaiapoi. On the way out ?ihe bad a nip of whisky. Heade had the bottle, but she did not remciitner which of the accused gave 'hpr the drink. At the Kaiapoi 'Hotel they had tea. and then went on to a private house, .where she had some more whisky. Again, she did not know which of the two men gave it to her. After leaving the bouse at Kaiapoi. she remembered nothing until .-he found herself in the hands of the police at ChrUtcburch. To Mr. Donnelly: Her co.u»in. Euu McKenzie, proposed going to KaLapni. There had been a -uggestion at first of going to New Brighton. To 'Mr. Cassidy: Eva iMteKenzie was I went v years of age. Her mother did not kilow where they were going. The 'Ma-gist rale: How iiong have you known these men" (Witness: For tbe laist seven months I've 'known Salt, but 1 only met Heade on the CNUtiday. Grace the mother of the previous witness, -aid the girl would be fifteen years of age next November, and produced a birth certificate. Mr. Donnelly: That evidence is not relevant. This is not a sexual offence. 'Witness remarked that in the Ibirt'h certificate her own age was stated wrongly. Su'b-iin spec tor AfcKinnon: What is your age. Mrs. iManson*r Witness: 1 refuse to give it. To Air. Oassidy: Her daughter was of an hysterical nature. The Albgistrate decided to admit the evidence. A HOSTILE WITNESS. (Eva AK'K.enzie eaid she went with .Salt Heade and her cousin (the first witness), to Kaiapoi. on Sunday. June 14. She cor. raborated the statement that Heade got out of the taxi opposite the Excdsior Hotel, Ibut did not know whether he bought whisky. She had no whisky, and did not tee any whisky in the car. At Kaiapoi she had tea. They called at Salt's aunt's place on the way home. She saw no liquor there. The .Magistrate ruled that the witness was hostile, and allowed her to be crossexamiined toy the police. 5iLb J lns,peet'or (to witness): I want you to Ibe careful now. 'Did you make a statement to Sergeant Bird Witness: I don't know Sergeant Bird. Sub-Inspector McKinnon: That man there! AYitness: Yes. T made a statement to him. Sub-Inspector AleKinnon: And you told him that you each had whisT-cy in Salt's house? —Yes. but it was not true. I never had any. Heade had a .whisky (by himself, when Salt was attending to the lights. Did anyone else have any whisky?—■ •No. Did you tell Sergeant Bird on that occlusion that Winnie Williams had a glass of whi-ky?—l don't remember. You needn't laugh at the evidence. Tt is no laughing nutter. Did you have any whisky in the car? —Yes, one 6mall nip. Where was that? On the way home. Before you left Belfast? —I don't know. (Who produced the'bottle? (Heade did. lie said. " We'll have a drop to keep the cold out." Your cousin came on Hysterical, did trlie not?— Yes. about two miles from Rrtlleston Avenue pile iberame hysterical. Did you stop? No. we did not stop, and no one interfered with the party. Where were you sitting?—ln the front seat with Sail., after 'le-av-ing his aunt's place. When we got to RfTllestou Avenue I got out of the car. Tell us about that?— Winnie William.*! was crying that much that two young men stopped tlie car there, and asked What was the matter. They jumped on the footboard of the car. pulled Salt to one side, and looked into tiie car. And you got out then?— Yen. 1 got out. and Winnie Williams got out. Two women came along and took Winnie a war with them. T went back to the 1 car." The driver (Salt) eald. "We'll pull round the corner so that a crowd won't collect." Where did you pull up?— Near tihe monument in front of the Museum. We waited there a while, and went to see where mv cousin was, but could not find her. What became of Heade went with the girl Williams. Did you look for the girl?— Yes, 1 inquired at tlic ladies' soliool at the corner. They said Winnie had been there, but had gone away with tin police. Uid you go to tlie police station? — No: I never did. Where did you go then?-To the Excelsior Hotel witlh the driver of the car. And made no furthpr inquiries about the /flirl?- No. To Mr. Donnelly: What she said now ■wa- the truth. She bad only bad one uhitikv. and she did not know what her cousin" had. The Magistrate: Be careful, young woman! The girl burst into tears, and exclaimed. "I only had one. 1 tell you!" '.'race. Manson: Keep your pluck up. Sergeant Jackson (to the woman): You keep quiet. AT KAIAPOI. Hannah Mavice wife of Ohcd Jyles. a resident of Kaiapoi. said Salt was her second cmuin, but he always called her -aunt." On Sunday. June 14th. Salt and his friands called at her place. Mie recognised the (firfc a* hay- I ing been in the party. "We hud nothing in the house.'' continued witness.' "but the other young man (Heade' j said T put him in mind of the old people \ at home, and brought out a bottle of I whisky. I knew the. little-jri-rl had ai little nut more lhan a tablespoon/ill- - but I didn't ace the other girl have »njr."

To Air. Donnelly: She did not know Who poured out the whisky, as she went out to get tiome water. To Mr. Cassidy: S-he told the other girl not to take any whisky, that she had girls of her own, and would not like to see them taking whisky. Mr. Cassidy: There was not much - barm done in the bouse. Witness: There was no harm done in 2 my house, sir. f The case was adjourned till Monday, t July 14th. when, further evidence was - 'heard, and both of the accused were y committed for trial.