A SORDID ROW

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 6

A SORDID ROW

Trouble m Duke^Str&t.

Tiie shocking dmnioraiity/ibf- some; slum streets, or alleyways, or whatever they are called, m CJiristclKirch, would, even shock the sensSbilities /of those Wiho think they can * stand a little shocking. La/dies of loose morals, whose habits are not of a su- # tferfine character, lire dn a state of' squalor m many of <tne malodorous thoroughfares, but im-others/ where there are ''respectable," althoueb partially women of pleasure, their life, is < -brighter and •better, fout women ..of the lower class, wifro can snow tjielr marriage lines look down on them . with • unspeakable contempt,,; and give them hell whenevej: they feeft /that way 'm- 1 dined. Duke-Str^&t Was obtained a great notoriety latteily. ; its' regal name entitles it to top - the score. ■ The bird of scandal %5 always; hovering over Duke Street*, and it always perches, m the Magistrate's iGouTt. . There were two injexre shameful and •unsavory oases the other day, -.when I neighborly amenities , were discussed ' before Day, S.M. A; little slip of a woman nasmed Mary, ilnni Jennett ; was charged weth using "insulting words to-, wards her ; opposite nedghjjeto:,, Maria Willis, m- a public place, \withan the hearing of passttrs-by,: whereby, a 'reach of the peace might have faeem occasioned;' Lawyer' Hunt, lor the com- ■, plainaait, said • Ittoe womaai. iiadn-uen subj ecoed! to a good ideal of annoys 'aace by tlie conduct Qf ttie deEend--'an!- ;■ she cou&in'-t walk down the road -withaut havina: : toiisl*-n to liorrdblt? which' was levelled, at her ; .she never retaliaifced* and 'desire!! the iCourt to put the tttins down.Thi>. corapJainant,. Maria Willis.- . said that she cleaned oifires m ifte morning.; did; dressrrtaking. in> th'e&f.ternoon, and -had a -boarder miow and -again. On 'the afternoon m question, the woman said sbe was a source of annoyance dn ; the street, , was always kicking up a a'ow with somebody or other,. "The lady had even abused her, saM was m the habit of passing filthy remaiks.. The next witness -;was Charles 'Fleming, a•, traveller', whose ibntsiness ■took him into the dlupal street. He had' occasion to visit? Mrs Willis's house. Oft leaving,. Mr 9 fJenwett accosted him and said she supposed he had been inside for, an immoral purpose. Then she callfed Mrs Willis a prostitute and other -bad names.' James Templeton, a 'grocer"s cart§r, and Mrs Oonnwall,. who was most •mphatic, ' also tendered testimony .. f A W&lfit was raised Hiiati ihe lam^uage eathpiSiiti&l of was nbtet&& by the defendant inside her own' gatie> ■ and she was confidently jdo^ ma; public /place 1 .- As two witnesses swore that she was inside, and two others that she was on the f ooffipafth',] Magistrate J>ay dismissed the case,. No costs were allowed. Mrs Willis next ntofceeueij; against an old bloke nam^'d Alexaniflei' Pattberson* charging iim' with .using, insulting words towards her.- What the gemtteman sard was : "'You. are a prostitute, and your House is a broIthel." The.giewtißman further rem.arkfc(i i&"at Ihei^oliee sku©w, aJi^b^t s iti

but didn't take' action. Mr Harper, who appeared for* dendant, admitted the language, but later on he decided

to enter a plea of not guilty, defendant being off the footpath at the time. It appeared that Mrs Willis was standing talking to a caller at the time when Patterson made the unsavory remark complained at. The caller, one Hesldp, and another, v witness, Harwgax*. gave evidence, but tiro S.M. decided to. dismiss the case. Mrs Willis doesn't appear to be a very great social lion m Duke Street; she will likely have to give the locality bes"t. / •