COUPLE CHARGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 301, 20 December 1943, Page 4

COUPLE CHARGED

SEQUEL TO RAID

VICTORIA STREET PREMISES

As the sequel - to a police raid on premises in Victoria Street on December 11, a Yugoslav couple, Andrew Ted Yovich (50) and has wife, Eva Yovich (39) appeared in the Police Court to-day before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., on three charges.

The male accused was charged with keeping a house of ill-fame at 43a Victoria Street, keeping liquor for sale, and keeping the premises as a place of resort for the consumption of intoxicating liquor, while Mrs. Yovich was charged with assisting in the management of a house of ill-fame, keeping liquor for sale and selling liquor without a license. Mr. H. A. Steadman represented both accused, who pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Senior-Sergeant Munro, outlined the evidence that would be given. He said Andrew Yovich was the occupier and owner of the premises, six rooms of which were for letting purposes. The accused hacl four children whose ages ranged from 5 to 12 years. They lived on the premises. Four girls of 17 had been arrested when the police raided the premises on December 11. Girl's Evidence A girl of 15 who lived in Northcote and is employed in a Parnell boot factory, said she was with another girl in Queen Street on October 30 at 8.15 when they met two servicemen and went to 43A, Victoria Street with the men. Witness said the other girl would not enter the premises and left with a serviceman. "A man opened the door. I wouldn't go inside, but the serviceman pulled me in and shut the door," continued witness. "We went upstairs and the serviceman went down again and after getting a key came back and opened the door of a bedroom. When we went in the serviceman locked the door." The girl then said that intimacy occurred. Half an hour later the serviceman returned the key of the room, witness going outsid£. While standing outside 43a, a man asked her if she wanted to go in, but she told him she had just come out. Witness could not identify the man who opened the door when she first went there. A 19-year-old girl employed in a factory situated in Hannah's Building said she ~ had "seen things happen" at 43a, Victoria Street during the last three months. She mostly saw servicemen in the company of young girls in the rooms. (Proceeding)