WANDERING WICKS.

NZ Truth, Issue 351, 16 March 1912, Page 5

WANDERING WICKS.

Does a Dash to Dunedin.

But the Bobbies Bring Him Back— Accused had Only Himself to Blame.

Oh the morning: of Wednesday last, Arthur Joseph Wicks, music teacher, of Wellington' South, who had been committed by Mr W.. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court., on February -.14, for trial at the Supreme Court on a charge of having indecently assaulted one of his female pupils, again appeared m the dock before Mr Riddell, S.M., having been arrested at Dunedin at 11.15 a.m. on Friday of last week, March. B, just as he was about to board a train leaving the dour Scotchbyterian "centre for sereaer and calmer Christchurch, • THE STRONG ARM OF THE LAW being wielded by Detective Connolly, of the Dunedin forcet The charge on this occasion was that Wicks had bean held to bail on an indictable offence, to wit, the crime of indecent assault, and was about to abscond for the purpose of evading justice. On the occasion of his committal. Wicks had been granted bail, and he entered into a bond with two sureties, namely, Charles Augustus George de la Roche, saddler, of 1G Normanbystreet, Wellington, and Joseph Wil-

liam Salmon, postmaster,. Wellington South, residing at 21G Riddiford-stra-at. The former is Wicks's father-in-law, and it was on his information, sworn on Tuesday of last week, March 5, that Wicks was re-arrested on. "-he second charge. Inspector Ellison conducted the ea-se for the prosecution, and Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie '. (Messrs Herdman and Kirkcaldie) paddled the canoe of Arthur Joseph, who vehemently protested his innocence, while .de la Roche and Salmon sat m the background of the court, wearing 4 worried looks, and furtively glancing at the accused, w'io also wore an unduly serious expresand- should like to hear more about it. In a general reply, t'he Chief Commissioner said he did not think the small-holders could obtain compensation from the charity for the time and labor put into the land. The difficulty was that the High Court might maintain that the Salvation Army has not acted beyond their powers. But '..he Commissioners would consider what action they should take, and report to the deputation. - The Salvation Army's small-holding scheme is a charity governed by a scheme made by the Court oO Chancery dealing with a bequest of £33,000 left by the late Mr George Herring. A director . of the "Army" was given complete control el the charity, and the court cannot iiuo'cra unless he acts dishonestly < r m bad faith. Those who know English law will understand how slow the court would be to take action on any complaint made against such a widelyworded agreement. But Booth, who is STILL, TAL.KING BOODLE and blood-and-tlre, would be a wise man if he cleared up the matter by an independent tribunal — if he can. | Otherwise, he will .find the bowl of British charity dry when he tries to dip his withered beak into it again. Britishers fight shy of a charity about which there have been unpleasant "disclosures" like those at Boxted. The "Christianity" which throws helpless women out into the road needs a deal of explaining, too.

| sion, to say nothing of a, well-cut brown sac suit. The inspector having explained the. circumstances of the arrest, counsel for the accused, put his client m the box, and there, on oath, Wicks's story was'that since his committal for trial, 'on February 14, he.had found that his position' m Wellington had considerably changed for the worse. He was LOSING HIS OLD PUPILS, and could get no fresh ones. On Saturday afternoon, while on the Basin Reserve, he had' come across Constable Taylor, "and''had unburdened himself to that limb .of the. lav/. He told Taylor that he was "done" m Wellington, and had; an idea of going north or else down south, and he, asked Taylor if he thought the police woul-1 raise any objection. The constable sa.id that he did not think so; it rested with the bondsmen, if they let him h-o it was their funeral. H* went to Christchurch; and. thence to ■Timarn, He saw a gentleman who advised hlai to go -fto Geraldine. •■Subsequently he went to Dunedin by the second express. He' there saw Mr Alexander 1 Begg, managing director, of Messrs Chai-les Begg and Company,' Limited, whom he had known tor several years, and that gentleman was seeing him off at the train on' Friday, March 8, v/hea he was ■ arrested, being immediately lodged m gaol, and subsequently remanded by Mr Widdowson, S.M., to appear at Wellington. He had a.return ticket and £6 6s on him when arrested, and denied all intention .to abscond. Mr Riddell, S v Mi, received a lettor from Mr Begg, dated March 11, stating that Wicks had been to see him. In reply to Inspector Ellison, Wio'.cs said that he had wired to his wife' at 24 Riddiford-street, from Christchurch, ■-•n Tuesday, ;March 5 (three clays before his arrest), as follows: —"On important business. .Just-time to catch boat yesterday; Returning to-morrow. Wire care General Post Office; Arthur." THE, "IMPORTANT BUSINESS" was relative to obtaining employment m .Christchurch. The gentleman' who advised him to go to Geraldine was Mr William Anderson, of Ashburton.. He did not notify the police that he was leaving Wellington. Inspector Ellison: Now, I don't want to prejudice you m any way, but did you not-go away on a former occasion to Sydney when you wore "wanted"? Wicks: Yes, but 1 did not know I was "wanted* 1 when I went. Mr Kirkcald'ie: Oh! that's all past und done with. Constable -Taylor corroborated Wicks's 'evidence regarding the conversation on the Basin Reserve. His Worship did not desire to hear the •' bondsmen: He considered that Wicks had only- himself to blame for his present position. Constable Taylor's opinion was not that of a person m authority. He should have acquainted his bondsmen, and also have consulted a person m authority. Thor<.i was, however, some evidence m his favor, and,, m the face of that, he did rot propose to order his imprisonment until his trial. The charge would be dismissed. The bondsmen informed Inspector Ellison that they wished to be released frcm their bonds, and the inspector so informed the bench. Mr Kirkcaldie said that his client should have some opportunity to explain his position to his bondsmen. His Worship: Very well, I will g-i -v him an opportunity. They can take what steps they like to release therai selves. In the mentime, he is still on bail. I don't propose to imprison him. He will be discharged, -and his bondsmen still remain liable.