ABUSIVE CONDUCT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18963, 10 March 1925, Page 7

ABUSIVE CONDUCT.

WOMAN SENT TO PRISON. COURT FINES COMPANION. PROFESSIONAL MAN INSULTED. " A menace to society," was (he description applied by Chicf-Dctcctivc Cummings, to two elderly women, Rose Lee and Mary Lewis, who appeared before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the J J olice Court yesterday. Lee was charged with using indecent language in Remucra Road and I insulting words in the Supreme Court, | while the allegations against Lewis were | that she behaved in an offensive manner |in the Supreme Court, and also in Rcmueni Road. Mr. Matthews represented both women, j Tho chief-detective stated that on December l ( j a well-known professional man was walking along Remucra Road with his wife when the accused used abusive language. On another occasion two other well-known professional men v-cre i greeted with filthy language by the accused in the Supreme Court. The two women were in the habit of waiting until a I respectable man was accompanied by his ; wife or daughters in the street when ! they would hurl disgusting language at : him. ! Another practice of theirs was to telephono the wife of some professional man and teil hc-r that her husband was in the company of another woman. They would also ask the wife if she knew where her husband was the night before. The police had received complaints that the accused had attempted to extort money from persons by menaces. They had been interviewed by the police several times and asked to give an assurance that they 1 j would cease such conduct but they had | absolutely refused. Lee had been before I the Court twice in 1919 for using insult- | ing behaviour and insulting language, be- ■ | ing bound over to keep the peace and | find a surety of £SO. The women's pranks had caused a great deal of trouble and he thought an example should be made of them. Mr. Matthews said it was hard to say anything in extenuation, but it appeared the women were labouring under a grievance or delusion. In any case they had adopted an entirely wrong method, and even if they were in the right nothing justified them in letting their tonsrues j slip and using disgusting language. They | were quite prepared to put an end to ! their behaviour. He thought they were j slightly eccentric. Mr. Cummings: We have made inquiries and are satisfied that they have no legitimate grievance. Mr. Matthews: I am perfectly satisfied that is so. Mr. Poynton said it was necessary that a hold should be kept over them. Lee would receive one month's imprisonment on the first, charge and on the second she would be ordered to enter into her own bond £IOO and another of £25 to keep the peace for 12 months, i Lewis would be fined £5 and £3 10s j costs on the first charge and ordered to | come up for sentence within 12 months on the second.