"A DIRTY CASE."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 9 March 1911, Page 7

"A DIRTY CASE."

A MARRIED MAN'S BEHAVIOR

[press association.]

AUCKLAND, March 8. A somewhat , peculiar finish occurred at 'the TVlagistrate's Court to a civil case before Mr Kettle, S. M., yesterday. Thomas Henry Hopkins sought to recover from Louie Keatts a ring, valued at £6 10s. Plaintiff deposed to his first meeting the defendant on the wharf, also to subsequent meetings, including a visit to Albert Park at night. He said he let defendant look at the ring, which belonged to his wife. Defendant put it on her finger and he could not get it back again. < The defence was that the ring had been given by the plaintiff to the defendant as a keepsakW > The Magistrate said it was a dirty case and ought to have been taken iiL the Police Court, either under the heading of a charge of theft against the girl or indecency against the plaintiff. He said that there had been the grossest perjury in the case, probably on both sides. He non-suited, plaintiff without costs, and directed the police to lay a charge against him for indecent behaviour in the park. Hopkins pleaded guilty to this charge and .was remanded till Friday.