STEWART LEAVES HOME

NZ Truth, Issue 151, 9 May 1908, Page 6

STEWART LEAVES HOME

And -the Consequence.

When Robert Stewart left his lodgings m Christchurch on Easter Monday something occurred which led his landlady to suspect that he wanted to do something more reproachful than he had really done. Maria Willis, the grim female m 'question, charged her ex-lodger with assault, and conducted her own case m the Magistrate's Court v Stewart had been living iat her place with his wife, a lady who had smashed -a .'considerable, arqriunt of / crockery on 'the premises, and failed to pay for the same. The dreadful pair departed, arid Stewart; returned on April 20 for a tin trunk which the indignant Maria had 'forcibly seized pending payment for the damage already mentioned. The caur tious woman wouldn't permit toiih to enr ter the door, but told him to go round to the window. Here he remarkfed, "I owe you lis," and pulled some money from his pocket. The unsuspecting female thereupon produced the box, but the brutal Stewart attempted to ' climb thnough the window, and seized her violently by the arms, inflicting injuries'- to the limbs which necessitated a visit to Dr.. Devonport. The advances of Stewart were repulsed with slaughter, but he commandeered the trunk and made ofi"#ith it. Mr Donnelly : He got away with the trunk without' paying ; THAT IS YOUR GRIEVANCE, Isn't it?— No, it isn't.Why did he catch yow by the arms ?— With very bad intentions, sir. Why did you not open the door ?—Because I was alone m the houseThe name of Dd. Davonport "was called, but he failed to materialise, Respite the tearful assurance of. the lady that he had promised to come. Stewart's story was a denial of the as- . sault. He called at the domicile, and the Willis woman wouldn't open the door, remarking -that she had two sick ladies m the-.house. He accordingly^ went round to the window, when Mrs Willis demanded 7s 6d, and Stewart told her he couldn't afford it. He -didn't owe for rent, tbe sum mentioned being a claim for damage. He acknowledged getting away with the box while the landlady wasn't looking, but he had no evil ; intentions with regard to her. As Maria's testimony was uncorroborated, a J.P. Bench dismissed the inform- _. ation.