TO-DAY'S COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 15 April 1909, Page 7

TO-DAY'S COURT.

(Before Mr Turnbull, S.M.)

For drunkenness a first offender was convicted and discharged.

A MAINTENANCE CASE

Albert Petersen, of Hawera, who was alleged to be the father of an unborn child by Mary Goble, .ot Inglewood, appeared to answer an information- which stated that there was jusi cause to suspect that he was about to change his place of residence. '

• Mr ODea (who appeared for com. plainant) said the case was a very bad one, and explained the circumstances. Defendant had promised marriage, but afterwards refused to act honorably.'

Mary Goble, in evidence, stated that it was about June or July last when she came to know Petersen. - She \became engaged to him later, the letters «howed the date. When witness in formed defendant of the trouble (on September 9) defendant said they would get married. There was nothina at that time in the way or the marriage; later defendant's parents objected. In Mr O'Dea's office Petersen had said he would have cleared out long ago if he had had the money, and if he had got away the police would not have a chance to catch him

Very affectionate letters, which wero sent to complainant by Petersen, were read by Mr O'Dea.

Corroborative evidence as to Peter sen's intention to leave Hawera was given by Mrs Goble and Mr O'Dea. Defendant, sworn, stated that what he had said about clearing out in Mj O'Dea' s office was that if he had w«*nt ed to clear out he would have clone so long ago, and if lie had gone aivay he did not think the police would have troubled about him. Witness admitted that he was the fatner of the child— so fai as he knew. Tne reason he did not marry complainant was that he found out she had had a child before. He thought that wa3 a good enough reason for his refusal. Someone told him he should marry the girl, and he asked his parents' consent, but did not get it. The Magistrate said that practically on his own admission Peter sen was the cause oi the truublisr. Ht ordered defendant to enter into a bond of £40 and find one surety of £40 that he wtould not leave the unborn child without adequate means of maintenance, and to pay expenses in connection with birth and solicitor's fee of one guinea. Deiendfmt was allowed one week in which to find surety.

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