TENANCY CASE IN GISBORNE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 10

TENANCY CASE IN GISBORNE

WOMAN ORDERED TO LEAVE HOUSE (P.A.) GISBORNE, February 23. Allegations that a woman had moved into a house, driven out the occupier by threatening to shoot him, and now refused to vacate the premises, were made during the hearing of a tenancy case before the Chief Justice (Sir Humphrey O’Leary) in the Supreme Court at Gisborne to-day. Mrs Margaret Barnfather was granted an order for possession of a house in Crawford road within seven days. The defendant was Laura McQuilkin. Evidence was given by Albert Barnfather of having heard the defendant say that she was going to shoot four persons, a Mr Smellie, another man, a magistrate, and a Salvation Army officer. She had never been authorised to live in the Crawford road premises. William A. Barnfather, a retired carpenter, said that the defendant came to • the house after midnight one night in August. She was crying. She asked lor a night’s rest, saying that she was tired and hungry. He allowed her to stay ler the night, but on his return two days later, the witness could scarcely enter the house for baggage which the defendant had brought to the premises. “After two months of trying to get rid of her, I told her to get out,” said the witness. "She said she would shoot me, and would only 'get 10 years.’ She then drove me away from the place.”