BOBBY ROWE AGAIN.

NZ Truth, Issue 169, 12 September 1908, Page 6

BOBBY ROWE AGAIN.

, Did He Slander Ferguson ?

The name of Messervey reverberates around Ohristchurch and district like an echo that starts •m South Canterbury and takes on a Scotch- accent as it . .approaches Dunediri. The old couplers diiels m Court about maintenance have set the family by the ears and revelations and recriminations have occasioned the very devil of a row oneway and another. Dave Ferguson, of New Brighton, married one of, the ; Messervey girls, and has sheltered the- old man for some time past, but m consequence of remarks made about his house by the local copper, Howe, a vendetta has sprung up with the police, and Ferguson seeks to have his damaged character rehabilitated. The first claim for maintenance, made by the', old dame was heard m Magistrate Day's private room, when Ferguson gave evidence anent his father-in-law s lack of means, and was then shot out of the room. Later Peeler Rowe gave evidence reflecting on the house kept' by Ferguson, with whom- old Messervey . was staying. ' The old man came out later and told Ferguson that Peeler Rowe testified to the effect that Ferguson ,

WAS KEEPING TWO PROSTITUTES m his domicile, and that the dwelling was an undesirable place for the elderly person, to be staying at. At anyrate, an order Avas made against old Messeryey compelling him to pay a certain sum towards his wife's support. Ferguson now says that Constable Kowe taunted him with losing the case. "-We beat you this time," he is alleged to have said. "Yes," retorted, Ferguson, "what dirty evidence did you v use?" Thereupon Peeler Kowe replied. "You be careful or I'll prove it." Ferguson then challenged Rowe to report the matter to his superiors, and later a member of the family called tf& the Police Station to investigate any such report bad it been made, but found that the copper hadn't been game enough to put his 'threat into practice,. It is probably

due to these incidents that Ferguson was nasty to the John when he came to serve the order on old Messervey at 8.30 p.m., and refused to permit the constable to enter. That officer subsequently effected his object with Messervey at 7 o'clock next morning, but he is alleged to have threatened Ferguson that he would get him the sack from the corporation's employ. Ferguson attributed the circumstance to the peeler when the borough foreman asked Mm what was the troublebetween him and the\person m blue. Of course, Ferguson wasn't sacked ; he holds an excesllent reference from the foreman for seven months' work (although he must leave with the others when the loan money "is expended) ; but from the conversation * with his boss, Ferguson believes that

BOBBY ROWE SLANDERED HIM. His trouble is the cannot get the -gist of the conversation to justify , an action by civil process. Ferguson produces testimonials from his landlord' and foreman to meet 'any allegation against himself or his domiciliary edifice, which is "shanty" m plain English, \ and wants to know if a peeler's uniform privileges him to ruin the character of residents m the district. He says, logically, if Rowe did represent him to be the harborer 'of two prostitutes, it was his duty to report the matter to the inspector and institute proper proceedings ; if he is afraid to prosecute then ' he , cannot substantiate . his charges, and Ferguson demands redress for the libel. Now, then, Rowe !,