AN UNPLEASANT PERSON

NZ Truth, Issue 405, 29 March 1913, Page 6

AN UNPLEASANT PERSON

Hand's Hanky-panky m Hagley Park. Another " Good Character " Gone. Let Off With a Fine. [From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) The smiling landscape of Hagley Park is" the principal beauty spot of Christchurch, and it is the spot that is most frequently fouled and disfigured by th© presence of awful depraved, male creatures. More of these wretched individuals have been apprehended m the park than m any other part of the city, an.l th© numerous complaints whicfh continue to be received by the police indicate ' thai the "industry"' is flourishing with greater pertinacity than ever. One factor which contributes largely to this deplorable state of affairs is THE SILENCE OF THE PRESS m respect of these offences, which offers cover to the offender and prevents the citizens from keeping an alert eye open for the loathsome practftioner. who is Usually a person of good character. In fact, good character is, now. discarded altogether by law dispensers when sexual offences are under discussion. ' Edward Hand, a young man of medium height, .thick-set, married, with .one 'child, and a moulder In Bootn-Macdon-ald's foundry, is the latest person to manifest abnormal unpleasantness. His detection was due to Mrs. Amelia Berndtson, of Fendalton,' who had been selected as a vi6Um by a male freak previously and had been advised to take practical steps to secure the perpetrator on the next occasion. She was cycling through the Park at 11 a!mi and saw Hand standing under the trees near the golf , links. The offence ' was committed as she passed, and when she had gone a little distance she got oft her bike and had a. good look at him. The lady, who t is of spare build, and wore a tall, dark hat shaped like a wigwam, a soft collar and tie, and a rain coat, jumped on her hike again and pedalling hard to the nearest grocer's m Colombo-street, t©lephoned"to Constable m Fendalton. She didn't occupy more than five minutes. Porteous, who had been anticipating something like this, vaulted smartly on to his machine and sped;' lustily 'to the Riccarton side of the, Park," and, making Ms way through the trees, observed Hand leaving ' their shelter and making j for the footpath.' The policeman STALKED HIS PREY i as a huntsman would stalk' a 14-polnter stagt m the wilds of Walrarapa. "With the trees as cover he watched Hand walk towards Helraore's road, but tho tquarry didn't enter tho thoroughfare: he walked along under shelter of the' hedge j \n the dlrectjo.n of Fendalton, peeping over now and then to see if anybody were coming. The "bobby" left the shelter of the tree 3 and scouted m true wildwest fashion amongst some rushes and tussocks till Hand reached some troes off the Fendalton road. Here Hand planted himself and awaited the coming of persons on the thoroughfare. "When a lady appeared the "John Cop" was on the qul vive for development^, but "a, man also put m ah appearance, and nothing happened. Hand then made a detour m the direction of the Riccarton Hotel, with THE POLICEMAN IN PURSUIT, and wh*en he, turned down towards tho hospital, -the pursuer ran up to and accosted the pursued. Hand denied having been m the trees, and said he. had entered the park from the Carlton Hotel, walking thence to the place where he stood. This left the Interesting stalking match entirely out of the programme. The weakness m the case against Hand lay m Mrs. Berndtson's Identification, which was not complete and whofeBouled. Questioned by Solicitor G. T. Weston, for the defence, she said she didn't have a good opportunity of recognising the man. To the best of Ttor knowledge Hand was tho person. Ho waa the nearest m appearance to the offender m 'the group presented to her for Inspection by the police. Mr. Weston submitted that there was no case to answer, but, after thinking deeply for a few minutes, Magistrate Bailey decided that there was a case to answer. Hand told the court that ho was a moulder, and had been fourteen years with Booth-Macdonald and two years with another employer. The works were closed on the day In question, and Hand paid a visit to the Addlngton paleyards. Then he cntored the park at the Riccarton end and followed the windings of the rivor to the Carlton Hotel. He re-enter-ed the park at this point and walked to the spot where he was accosted by the gentleman In blue. He was not In tho trees and he had not been guilty of tin offence. > In reply to Chief Detective Bishop, he said that he had informed the "John Slop" that he entered the park originally from the Carlton end. THAT WAS A LIE, or a mere evasive inexactitude, as he suspected that there hod been a row m park, and he didn't want to be mixed up m it. Did you know ho waa a policeman ?— Yes. How did you know?— l picked It eftjy — by his ways. Besides, I've seen him before. ; His Worship snld he would convict Hand. It wan rnther extraordinary that be (mould havo been found hanging about there when the constable appeared \\Uhln ten -minutes -of the offence, and that he should answer tho description Riven by tho lady, Hi» "Vorsilp expr«"sii>»}d himself at a lohs to understand why men did things of this sort. It was true that tho lady's Identification wa« not of the best, but his Worship took Into consideration tho fact that Kami was found on tho npot Indicated nml that hit* explanation to the con»tabto dlUn't tally .wJih the statement of tho latter of what had happened, and with his own subsequent evidence. Mr Wcßton mentlmied THK GOOD CHARACTER borne by »l» client, and tho Chief Dutec live endowed hi* remark* on ihe nv.hJoct. Mr. We»ion pointed out that If Hn.n-1 were given an enforced holiday, tho punishment, would fall on tho wife sui") child If Impowed, ft flno would h* paid. Tho Ohk»f nald that there wor« »o many of iheiui cases. Tho accused wo* fined £10, hl» Worship remarking thnt iho \>nrk mum bn kept free, from unpleasantness of this kind.