RICKETTY RICKERBY.

NZ Truth, Issue 105, 22 June 1907, Page 5

RICKETTY RICKERBY.

A SCOUNDRELLY SEDUCER

SETTLED.

His Face Grew Red.

And He Shed Tears.

Ah unspeakably sad case, a most cruel one, m fact, was heard at the Christchurch Police Court the other day. It concerned the seduction of a girl, and the girl was a deaf mute. Her name is. May Streeter ; she is well set up, and rather attractive, her only disability being the defect mentioned. Her parents live as Halswell, and May also resides there, or has done so till lately, having been m service at Mrs. Green's. She can read the lips of any person ' speaking, and can also read and write ; so she isn't so badly off after all- The vile scoundrel who seduced this malformed, innocent female is one Frederick Rickerby, who apparently has only, just reached man's estate, and who earns his crus,t as a laborer. His parents live Cat Halswell. When the case was first called on, a, few weeks ago, it was adjourned, arid Rickerby then absolutely denied ever }nt^ri^hadHuftr_ moral" relations with Miss Streeter. The child had not then been born, but has since made its. appearance m the Christclmrcb. Salvation Army Home, whither the girl was sent to get over her trouble.

Benjamin Streeter, father of the unfortunate, easily tempted female, stated, m reply to Counsel Flesher, that he knew the defendant, Rickerby, and on hearing that he was the cause o£ his daughter's fall from grace, he caned alone; and interviewed him. He., -said, "I believe you have got my girl into trouble," and his reply was, "So it seems." After a pause .the i scoundrel said he would be -up 'at Streeter's house at. seven o'clock that nieht, and they, could* then talk the matter over. He acquiesced, and. the appointment was duly kept. Streeter took the brute hito a tent into, the garden, and Mrs. Streeter followed immediately, and his

DEAF AND DUMB DAUGHTER afterwards. "Is this ibe man ?" he asked her, and she said that it was. Rickerby then denied the charge, and this rather surprised Strecter, seeing, that he had made an admission earlier m the evening. Subsequently, however, he said : "If you don't tell mv father and mother about this affaiij, or the clique at the "corner, I will tell you.'.' Who the "clique at. the corner" was the. witness didn't say. However, the bailed-up blackguard said : "I'll tell the ..whole truth ; I did take May across the road," land 'further admitted, something haying 'happened. . Streeter then observed that the gdrl would have to go away tp a home, y as she couldn't stop m Halswell. The usual request as to ."marrying the girl 1 ' doesn't' seem to have been made, for a wonder. . Rickerby then asked what the expenses would be, and the old bloke professed, ignorance on the point. However, something was said about "seeing about it." The wind-up of the interview ': was; '■that Rickerby promised,.. tQ^. turn ; up, again inf a fortnight's "timer promising^ to" "pay the incidental expenses, and, to keep the child after it saw the light of day. -But the family never saw the scamp again, the appointment wasn't kept, and the present proceedings were. the natural outcome of non-ful--filment.

The cross-questioning of Lawyer Donnellv, who appeared for the dedefendant, failjed to show a rift m ■the testimony ofi the' witness. It was solid. Pie was asked if he had contemplated taking similar proceedings against one Charlie '.Taylor, another resident of the district, but Streeter point-blank denied it.

Mrs. Agnes Streeter corroborated to a great extent. She was present at the interview when Rickerby first denied and then admitted his guilt : also his wail aboui his parents and the corner clique. When he admitted the impeachment his face grew red;! and he shed tears, said Mrs. S. She also remembered him saying that if it got to the ears of his father and mother he Would either have to

MAKE AWAY WITH HIMSELF or leave the country. On making this assertion, he . was gently adjured not to do anything rash, » but to act like a man. The further evidence corroborated the pie-crust promises of ruinous Rickerby.

The deaf mute complainant, May, Streeter, who kissed the Bible after reading a written oath, and who mumbled affirmatives or negatives to written questions put : by counsel, said that the defendant was the; father of her child. Then Counsel Flesher sat down.

Did you ever have' anything to do with Charlie Taylor ? asked Lawyer Donnelly.— No.

Or with any man m any paddock at night ?— No. f

Did you ever '• go across the road atG-reen's at night with any other man except accused for ah immoral purpose ?— No.

This concluded, the case, and Lawyer Donnelly had a confab with Ricfcerby . Then he told Magistrate Day that he had a quantity of evidence, briefed for the defence, but he didn't feel inclined to call it m view of the corroborated story that had been told on the other side. There was no doubt that the corroborated testi" mony adduced was quite sufficient for the court to make an order on. Of course Rickerby denied paternity of the child, but he couldn't escape an order under the circumstances.

Magistrate Day made the usual order of 7/6 a week, together with : a fiver confinement expenses, and solicitor's fee £2 2s. The lecherous fellow was also asked to find one security m £75 that he would, pay up, and he expressed his doufot about that part of the business ; m fact, it. was a very grave doubt, ami he was given a lew days m which to find some good-hearted soul. -If not. auod will be Ms portion, and well he deserves it. A deaf mute with a child is far worse off than any of her more fortunate sex who may also possess an illegitimate ; and it isn't, likely that the blackguard will offer to marry her m order to escape six months at Lyttelton. He would consider her a life handicap. She- served his pleasure at the time, but now .the infant has come to roost*