A BOBBY'S BRAT.

NZ Truth, Issue 94, 6 April 1907, Page 4

A BOBBY'S BRAT.

CONSTABLE BURKES DAS-

TARDLY CONDUCT.

Stern Comments by an Auckland

Magistrate.

A Policeman Without Manliness.

Magistrate Dyer, of Auckland, let himself loose on an Auckland policeman the other day, and it will be interesting after the scathing, scarifying denunciations of that policeman to note whether such a disgrace to the foorce and humanity is allowed to continue to wear the uniform. The policeman is Thomas J. Burke, who a few weeks ago was pinched on a warrant on a charge of having left m the lurch a young woman named Margaret Murphy, who was m an interesting condition, and for which Burke the bobby was held responsible. The peeler naturally denied the paternity of the unborn infant, and the case was fought out m the Auckland S.M.s Court, and occupied several days m the hearing, and was concluded one day last week. Margaret's story was the same old sad one. She had listened to the wiles of the serpent. Life for her with her boy m blue was one long dream. He had taken her to dances, and had given her a good old time. It ended m the usual way When she found herself m the right way TO BECOME A MOTHER— tho noble, big-hearted oflSccr turned dog on her. As far as affiliation cases are concerned, a very strong and circumstantial case was ! made out against tho bobby. His defence I seems to have been a bolstered up one. He endeavored by various witnesses to prove alibis for himself, and to blacken and besmirch the character of his duped victim, and to this purpose he himself went into the witness-box and gave a complete denial to the allegations of the complainant and her witnesses. He said he was m barracks on October 10th at the time when it had been alleged he was with the complainant. He was not responsible for the complainant's condition. He said he first visited, the complainant's house m May last, and then again on October 10th.

The first time he had ever been with the complainant alone was one night, when, at her request, he saw her home. Ho had then only walked from the car to her house. A week later he went to complainant's houso, having, by her request, arranged to take her and two friends to a dance. He went for the girl, but after leaving the home she said neither he nor she was going to the dance. Ho instantly took her home, and went to the dance himself. Witness denied having , OFFERED ANY MONEY to the mother of the complainant and also denied the alleged paternity. He had thrown up everything m the world to fight the matter. I In summing up, Mr. Dyer, S.M., said the caso had taken a considerable amount of lime, because he desired to give the defendant, who was a public officer, every opportunity of making good his defence. They . had the sworn testimony of the complainant, hor mother and a number of other witnesses, who had seen the complainant and defendant together on the occasions on which it had been alleged improper conduct had taket place. The evidence, so far as the complainant's case was concerned, was clear and conclusive. What was the defence? Burke had absolutely denied the whole thing. He had no hesitation m adjudging Burke to be, the putative father. He had only to say it was a great pity that a man m the Force liko Burke had no better regard for his uniform, his comrades, or his oftice than to treat the girl as he had done. Burke had added TO HIS DASTARDLY CONDUCT m going into the witness-box and denying it. He spoke wth great pain, because the Police Force was a fine body of men, and ifc was conduct like the defendant's whioh cast reflections on the Force generally. He had not the slightest doubt that the defendant was tbe putative father, and how he could have got the girl into trouble and then as a public offioer brazen it out m Court and contradict tbe girl from start to finish passed his comprehension. Burke had no manliness or hie could never have treated the girl as he had. He believed that the girl until the defendant had seduced her was a perfectly good girl. Mr. Lundon said it was his intention to appeal. The defendant was then ordered to find securities, himself m £100, and two others of £70 each, Two weeks were given m which to find the securities, m the meantime £100 of the defendant's money, now m the hands of the Clerk of the Court, would be left m the clerk's custody.