JESSE UNDERWOOD AGAIN.

NZ Truth, Issue 100, 18 May 1907, Page 5

JESSE UNDERWOOD AGAIN.

BREAKS FORTH INTO OBSCENITY.

The Court Awards Him 14 Days,

That breezy creature, ' 'Jesse L'ttderwood,, floated, ever so gracefully into the S'.M.'s Court on W.ei'a'CjS'.lay, last, where three J's.P. were holding aloft the scales, and for a few brief, and fleeting minutes, he, she, or whatever it is, ma.d£ things, ever so merry for those who looked. ; on J and. listened. Jesse. .Underwood is a ! male .person, or dresses m .'male at- j tire, but. "lots", manner and speech are those .of a "putcect" everyday lady, and it is on this point, (and. tno doubt it it a case of mistaken identity) that Jesse is such- a character, ami it is v "because people will, take him for a, lady, that the forlorn "creettir" is ever m sore and sad straits amd m the wars, and m drink, and m mostly everything but decent and respectable compauy, and de-^ cent and respectable company would not be seen with "her" because the neighbors mipjht talk. Jesse is a delightful creature, and no doubt it cannot help it, because it is a poor lonely thing tihat nobody owns, and won't recognise, 'because it talks of ladies as if they were one of him. Anyhow, last Wednesday, "she" wfeht away to winter ' quarters for 14 daysfor daring to use such wicked language, that no lady would ever dream of using, and, moreover, the; language was used m the 'presence of some of "heir" opposite sex, who walked away sick and disgusted and thoroughly shocked and shamed ' at "its" lownsss. it all came . about thus. Jesse was in^ Cuba-street, hear Hurcomfae's fish-shop, and, according to the evidence for the prosecution, without the slightest provocation, exploded, as set forth m the charge of obscene language. "I plead not guilty," it said •dreamily, and running its fingers through its raven locks, Jesse sweets ly sai)d that sucih language was never' allowed /to soil its lips.' Samuel Hiircomfte's evidence was brief and to the point. He said that Jesse used the language and behaved m a most "unladylike" fashion. "They' don't say what thiev said to me," said Jesse, ever so sadly. Hurcomibe was not sure, though, if Jesse was provoked, as he thought he had come from a pub. "They generally salute me about me . . . - BEING- A HERMAPHRODITE,," complained Jesse, and the witness professed • has total ignorance on such a. matter. "I am always insulted," Jesse went on, "■and they call me a hermaphrodite, .and I tell them I , am. not i; that I am. the same as everybody else." „ •,■■'■■ /'■ ' The wHhfess ; go,t ai . word m edgeWays that this was not the only occasion that Jesse had performed -outside the shop. ';■ : I This evidence was supplemented toy Henry Huroombe, brother $f the last, witness, and 'tooth, it may be mentioned, idernied feving struck the hopeless wretch, Underwood', . whose face bore ' evidence of _a most brutal assault.

-With gi%tat . Elifecrit^. . Ufid'erWood! wenit ifflto Wite bdx, h'-avlw" ; iri^ioa'ted a desire $o gave -evidehefe "on ifty oajth," kti'd #alkin!g' across from the dock to the witness-flMox, "it" averred, "I deny the language ; I have never been taken up fof thieving or anything like that. Sometitnes I take a- glass of beer.".

Crivifiig evidence, the dear creature said, '.'I "was, going by the stoop on Tuesday alter noon, after I had just come out) of , Mrs' Whelari's, .where there. Were three or four men also. Someowe said -something v about herm&pihroidi'tes, and I said I am no more 1 that than- 3*oll are. Hurcombe swish©a" round and v STRUCK ME ON THE EYE, ' aoi'd I .went and told a policeman, who sard, 'come along with me 1 to the Court till I take your statement. I went to Mt. Cook, where he took me m. No such laaiiguage as this ever camfe from my lips. All I inftgjh'thave said was 'look* at vqu'r own sister and mct-h er, don't look at me.' " "It" went on tb say that, having been insulted m the bar, he walked out, and the men followed him out jeering at him. , Sub-Inspector o 'Donovan next questioned the defendant about his i past record, and Jesse went oil, "I can swear to my dying oath I never used such language." ! "Haive ydui siny wi'toesses," asked th'e Bench, biit Jesse had horie. Sub-Inspector O'Dbncvan ; Have you ever been "before convicted ( of obscene language ?— No, \ never for theft or anything bad or immoral. I have enly been brought up because I had too much drink, I suppose, and I admit that.'' Thien it suddenly dawned on the weak and erring creature that there was a previous conviction for obscene language, anti though "she" said ''she" did not remember the circumstances ''she"- explained that it happened over a man "she" had takjen m and sheltered and that that man's Nvoinan was very rude to ."her." ■ •. The Bench awarded a sentence ol fourteen days' imprisonment.