A DRAPER'S RISKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6149, 2 August 1881, Page 5

A DRAPER'S RISKS.

[by telegram.—own cokrespondeuts.] Wellington*, Monday. A rather curious judgment summons case came before the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. The defendants were women of ill-repute, named Mary Bowen and Eose Palmer, against whom Mi , . W. Alcorn, draper, appeared to obtain an order for payment, by periodical instalments or otherwise, on account of judgment that had previously been made against them. Mr. Shaw, Resident Magistrate, declined to grant such an order, remarking that, "If drapers and others chose to ' rig-out' women of this class on the credit system, thoy must accept the risk of their action." Mr. Alcorn said he understood; the calling of « prostitute was not an illegal one, to which His Worship replied, "There was such a thing as an immoral contract, such contracts being void." Mr. Shaw added that he had already had occasion to point out that tradesmen could only legally recover debts of prostitutes when those debts were for tho common necessaries of life, such as food, ordinary clothing, &c. Mr. Alcoru said the goods supplied included ordinary clothing. Upon this the magistrate referred to one of the items—"morning wrapper." Both cases •were then adjourned for twenty-eight days.