THE THIRD PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 5

THE THIRD PARTY.

A SORDID STORY. "BLACKMAIL" SAYS MAGISTRATE. The story of a desperate encounter in a well-known boardinghouse was told at the Police Court this morning, when Thomas Fearon was charged with having assaulted an Austrian named Peter Katich, and also with being a rogue and a vagabond, in that he was found in felonious possession of a weapon known as a. slingshot. Mr. Allan Moody (instructed by Mr. Goldstine) appeared for the accused- ■

The evidence showed that Katich went with a young woman to a boardinghouse in Wellesley Street, and booked a room for "Mr. and Mrs. Clark." FeaTon followed, asked Katich for money, and when the Austrian laughed, attacked him. A desperate encounter was in progress when Detective McHugli I appeared on the scene. The Austrian was dripping with blood, and blood was on the floor and walls. There was a mark on the Austrian's forehead, said i Detective McHugh, exactly the same size ; and shape n>) the end of the slingshot. Mr. Moody: Do you know that accused is a married man ? —T know he is not married, but living with a married woman in Oxford Street. The police called Mabel Brooks, who said she was a married woman, apart from her husband, and living with accused as his wife. "I have been living with him for twelve months," she said,' "for seven months of that time in Wellington." To Mr. Moody, the woman stated that Fearon had worked in Wellington, and until recently he had been drawing a military pension of £4 6/8 a fortnight. To put it plainly, you have been living as man and wife? —Yes. Did he give you any money? —Yes; he kept mc while he had money. The Chief-Detective: Did you give ; him money? —T had £6">. I did not give it to him. When I was ill in bed I gave him permission to use the money as he liked. Did he use it?—Ye3, with my permission. Deteetivo McHugh declared that lie had kr.own accused to do eight weeks" work in seven months. He had worked as a barman at the Waverley Hotel, and was dismissed for dishonesty. He had worked at the United Service hot<?l as barman, and been dismissed from there also for dishonesty. "We have had numerous complaints about him assaulting this woman, failing to pay his board, aiid knocking about the town as a bludger and vagrant." added the detective. Mr. Moody: Ha-s he been prosecuted for dishonesty?—Xo: I knew nothing about it until I made inquiries at the hotels. The woman Brooks complained to mrthat she ha-s been keeping Fearon with I monov she received from her former husband'for the support of her child. The Magistrate said he was of opinion that Fearon let the young woman who lived with him as his wife go to the bop.rdingliouse with the Austrian and then went after the man to blackmail ' him. When he was refused money ho attacked him. Accused was .sentenced to one month ■> imprisonment with hard labour on each charge. On a further charge of having stolen £33 in money he was remanded for a week.