THE CRUSADE

NZ Truth, Issue 571, 27 May 1916, Page 7

THE CRUSADE

A Biting Brothel "Bully" Emily Thomas's Disreputable Den Why was the Dog Not Destroyed? Indignant Neighbors Complain to "Truth"

The final spasm (as far as the Magistrate's Court is concerned) of ihe brothel-keeping case was heard at the Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, when Mr. I>. G. A. Gooper, S.M., gave his decision m the case of Police v. Emily Thomas, of Cambridge-terrace, who was charged with keeping a ferocious bull-dog, and also with keeping a place of ill-fame. It was decided to try the bull-dog first and see what could be done about his hereafter. Three times has Emily's ferocious Fido appeared (per Mr. J. J. McGrath) before the court, and three times has the Bench SENTENCED HIM TO DEATH, and then reprieved him. Mr. Cooper, S.M., was adamant during the first few words of his first summing up, but the sun of Mr. McGrath's countenance gradually melted the adamantine resolve to do the dog to death. He drew sucli harrowing pictures of Emily's utter woe at the prospects of losing th 6 friend of woman that the biting "bully" was allowed further leases of life and filled m the intervals by sampling succulent citizens. Mr. McGrath explained that the 'lady" had not destroyed the bullydoggie although he had pointed out to her that she was liable to a fine of £5. She had compensated all the bitten bourgeoisie and was ready to go on again with a clean sheet. In the future she would not aUow Fido out of the yard without chain or muzzle. It was something m her favor to say that she had had the dog entirely under her control for the last ten months. ' Although Mr. McGrath pointed out the punishment which the Court nad the power to inflict, she said that she would await the penalty of the court. ,- Just here, Inspector Hendrey mentioned 'that- the care to keep THE "BROTHEL BULLY" secure had been so strict that he was to be found wandering up and down Gallipoli-^er, • Cambridge- terrace — on Sunday morning. It had made a couple of selections, choosing a child and a full-grown male specimen of man as a part of its menu. "I shall ask your Worship to inflict a severe fine. She seems to igrnore the court, and persists , m keeping a disorderly house and a disorderly dog," said the officer. Here Mr. McGrath butted m with the information that the Inspector had no right to drag m the doggie's latest stunt, as it had been enacted after the charge had been heard, and was ultra vires. ;He contended that Em's at- : tachment to the tike was to. her credit, ! and showed a humanitarian disposition. Mr. . Cooper, S.M., whacked on a fine of £3, with 4s witness's expenses, which pans out at about five "bob" per halfdevoured citizen. Alternative was fixed at fourteen days, but counsel intimated that Em. was very prompt m her payment of dog-bite accounts. For keeping; a brothel, Emily was called on to find a "tenner," with seven shillings costs. Mr. McGrath: I ask your Worship to increase the amount to £10 Is, and I ask your Worship to take into consideration tho fact that my client will have to bear all the expenses of the appeal out of her own pocket, and to consider that In the infliction of the fine. The S.M. could not see his way clear to alter his decision, and fixed the ap- | peal security at £8 Ss, making a sum of £18 16s m all for the lady to pay. A DISCLAIMER. That the existence of such disreputable dens (for keeping the like of which this shameless stnjn, Thomas, was fined £10) is proving a menace to the community and a serious annoyance to eminently respectable residents of Cambridge-terrace, is 6orne out by the indignant denials and repudiations made to "Truth." A Mrs. Maher, who resides at 36 Cambridgre-torrace, draws our attention to the fact that the ad« dress of Mrs. Thomas's house of illfame was set forth m "Truth's" brief report of the proceedings as 34-36 Cam-bridge-terrace. These numbers were sworn to by Police Constable Gunn, and, accordingly, "Truth" published the numbers IN GOOD FAITH.' But as Mrs. Mahor's statement shows that sho resides at No. 3G, tho policeman must have mado a groat mlstuko when giving evidence. "Truth" regrets that it should have caused Mrs. Mnher any inconvenience, and <leslre» to state that' Mrs. Maher's house is a . respectable* ono. Indeed, It seems that the City Council should give some attention to the numbering of this terruco, which, duo to the disclosures made, is suffering m reputation through tho inalodor- ■ ous doings of v few. Incidentally, "Truth" wishes to point out that ono of Mrs. Maher's lodgeri* is an old-ugo ponslon«r, and us his address Ls 3<J I Cambridge- termee, tho number given to Mrs. Thomas's house of ill -fume. th»« elderly gentleman m question is afraid that ho will suffer. "Truth" wishes to mako it perfectly plain that Mrs. Thomas's den Is not 3C CiwnUrUlK*'terruce. thru la iho number clulmiHl by Mrs. Maher, who, as fur u« ••Truth" Known, is iv cU»an-llvlr»tf. hard- working respectable wonvm. In addition to the above, a Mm. Clark, who gave evidence concerning THE FEROCIOUS BULL-DOG, which has played a more or lean ignoble purl m this prosecution, iU'Blrt>» "Truth" to correct an itnnrvsslon Unit who mud© "a smull fortune" out of Mjm, TllOinaJS ns a BH»vq for Injurlw* rwlvert from the ferocious anlmul. Mrs. Clark desires It to be known that b)ki received compensation only to the extent of. tho jjxjtn of lls. Incidentally, "Truth" wlahes to ask | Magistrate Cooper a quttsUon. Ho ha« j hud it clearly established that tho bull- j iloj? was a ft-rocloua anlmul, whi|». m- j directly lv: mUHt hiivd frathored that tlit> ! symbol of EniflaiHl'K Navy was usurping in* functions of that UKuully dirty dot", "the* bludgcr." In tho clrcurn. «tnnce«. why dUI not Magistrate Cooper order its destruction? Tho Moerlatrate'a j Hhllly-flhallylnsr attitude on the question j lK'tol«-n8 a weakneau not desirable In , any Magistrate.