"Spes-hell" Blackguardism.

NZ Truth, Issue 443, 13 December 1913, Page 2

"Spes-hell" Blackguardism.

A Widow Grossly Insulted.

Police Laxity' 'OncA More Instanced.

From tho number of cases at respectablo women' andl! girls being in-, suited by spes-hell constables; and of. drunken vcxhibitions In our principal streets mado\ daily by many \of these Johnnies, it is time that the John! 'Op department— both-ordinary and 'tecs, branches— "slowed up" 4n- raking up cases against '{strikers and suspected strikers, and devoted their attention to that undesirable class cf men, who. ostensibly here for th<jj. maintenance of* order, are tho ', yf\ REAL PROMOTERS ;OP DISORDER. Every day, during this week, there has been a steady procession of complainants into our "holy of hollea"— highly respectable citizens for the most part — voicing tfiolr indignation at some outrage' or other committed on their wives, daughters, or )ady friends. Yet, m spite of th© fact that complaints have been preferred at the various police stations, m no ono instance has an offender been brought boforo Nfoßistrate- Rlddoll. To be frank, 'Truth" is rather anxious to see one of this objectionable gang before his Worship, m r order to Jearn how much evidence it would take to convict Undor proaent conditions, IT REQUIRES SIX WITNESSES of good standing to disprove tho statements of two "spes-hells." ' Tho latest victim 1« Mrs. Thomson, a widow lady, who, with her daughter, endeavors to ekt« out an honest livelihood m a little book s'.oco at tho cornor of Trirannki and Bucklo-strcotH, right opposite the barracks. Last Saturday morning, at 7 o)clock, ,jho was awakened by a loud Banging at the door. She got up; iiut, beforo she could dress, another battery started, which threatened to smash m tho panels. When flho got Uownatairs, she said, "Who is there?'! A gruff voice called out, "Open this door!" Timidly tho poor woman complied with tho demand, wondering whut was tho matter. She wab confronted by a ROUGH, BACKWOODS LOOKING of humanity, who proved to bo onu of tho now notorious "spos-hells." "I don't wjvn,t. tp Wjy anything," bo said gruffly. "I want something taken out of that window." lie pointed to tho advertising poster of tho "Maoriland Worker." "If you don't take It out at once, you will not hivo a home over your head.* Tremblingly. Mra. Thompson complied with the boorish, brutish demand, and tho aggressor walked away. When N sho had time to dress herself properly and collect her thought*, she replaced tho poster In an even more conspicuous position than before, and hle*l herself to tb« Mount Cook Police Station, where stau tnado her complaint to the nerjfeant In charge. A dnsr or so afterwards an officer from the barracks entered her shop, accompanied by two m*n, who wcro evidently "«p*s-heU*." The uniformed ono asked Mrs*. Thomson if «he could rccognliwr either of tho two. Sho quickly picked put on<n as the man who had banged at her door the previous Saturday. v •^ NO ATTEMPT AT AX APOLOCJY •*>*aa. made, however. Tho guilty, man

simply grinned, and the three "walked out. Mr. Widow -frightener was recognised on Thursday morning last as he was riding away from the barracks on duty bound. The question arises: What have, the authorities at , Mount Cook been doing?" "Sergeant Dew came here with a fine reputation, and it seems up to him to do something to protect .undefenddd widows m his district.