A SOLDIER IN THE HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 11, 12 January 1918, Page 6

A SOLDIER IN THE HOUSE.

BOARDINGHOUSE KEEPER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. WELLINGTON, Friday. A case of Tather more than ordinary interest came before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Mrs. Louisa Priestly was charged with failing to give information in "regard to a soldier who was in her board-ing-house. Inspector Marsack said that the case had been called to give publicity to the meaning of the Military Service Act, and to 6how what were the responsibilities of the people when questioned as ,to the -whereabouts of soldiers or reservists. The soldier in question, an alleged deserter, had a room in defendant's boardinghouse. When two constables called, defendant denied that any soldier .was in the house. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for defendant, said that for some time past Mrs. Priestly had been bothered by loafers and "cadgers" who came to the house and sponged on soldiers. When the constables called they w-ere in plain clothes, and Bhe thought that possibly they had called on a like errand when they asked for a soldier. When, however, the constables stated that they "belonged to the police force she did not retract, and stuck to the untruth. As the case was called for the sake of giving publicity to a particular section of the Act he would ask for a light penalty. The magistrate inflicted a fine of 20/ with costs.