SPIED ON LOVERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 80, 29 December 1906, Page 8

SPIED ON LOVERS.

Desperate Struggle with a* ; Blackmailer. Terrible Charges. An incident which occurred during the evening walk of two Cardiff lovers was described at the local City; Sessions recently, when -George' -'.Bas-' kett was charged with demanding money by menaces from Robert Lewis Fullerton, electrician. The prosecutor said he was out with his young lady. Miss Johanna Manley, m Victoria Park on the evening of August I*7,' and they both sat down ' on some grass , for a time. When they rose to leave, Baskett sprang out of the shadow of the railings m front 0 f them. Witness asked what he wanted, and he replied, iU I want to see who you are. • I want to know what you are (doing over there." Witness struck a .match to let the prisoner see who he v/as. The latter then said, "I am here to see that this, place is kept respectable."

Witness asked prisoner for his authority, and if he was a police constable, and he replied, "What if I am?" and added : "You have been behaving

INDECENTLY AND IMPROPERLY, and ouoht to be ashamed of yourself, and vbu are no gentleman." Witness told the prisoner that if he was a police constable he ought not to speak to him in' that manner, and he would write to Mr Mackenzie, the head Constable, m the morning.

Prisoner said : "You are a scamp and a blackguard and if I had you five miles from here I would beat you to a pulp." They started to walk down the road, when the prisoner, pointing to Miss Manley, said she was no. better than a loose woma_n, and "if she was a sister of mine I would kick her to pieces. She is no good, or she would not be seen with a scamp like you, and I shall *• have to expose you." ' • . LADY USES HER UMBRELLA, Afterwards prisoner said: "I think you had better give me something to square this, or I shall have to expose you and make it hot for you:" Witness replied : "Oh, you are the kind ot raan the soldier* shot— nothing but a spy and a blackmailer." Prisoner said : "What ! Say that again !" and witness repeated half the sentence when Baskett struck him a violent blow m the eve.

He also had a stick uplifted to strike Miss Manley, when the witness sprang forward and wrested it from him. They closed, and the prisoner's superior weight bore bim te the ground. In. the struggle. .Baskett regained possession of the stick and Ene.lt on the witness, beating him with it. Miss Manley stood • over the prisoner, beaming him on the headi with her umbrella. • .

She screamed, and three or four young men came up. In . their presence witness said the prisoner had blackmailed him, and a lad was sent on a bicycle for a policeman. . They all went to the police-station, and witness subsequently proceeded to the Infirmary, where his wounds were 'dressed. Next morning he obtained a warrant for the arrest of the prisoner.;

The prisoner gave evidence In his own defence He said he ' was lo'okirfg" for a purse when he saw the couple. Fullerton accused him of being a spy. and a struggle followed. He never asked for money.

Prisoner was found guilty, and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.