UNDER THE REGULATIONS

NZ Truth, Issue 612, 10 March 1917, Page 2

UNDER THE REGULATIONS

Another Landlord and the Law

Walter Reid and His Tenants

He Complained of Persecution

(Prom "Truth's" Auckland Rep.) The second case of its kind to come before the Auckland Police Court was heard on Thursday of last fo&s. when Walter Reid was charged ujhtfr the War Regulations with lettiiwhhoufijn No. 95 Union -street, havingjcgfleooahJ© grounds for suspicion tha^Tll|way / to be used as a house of ill-tVpie. He was also charged with Mrmitting Kate McCarthy to remain>4n*^ccupation having reasonable groilnds^for suspicion that it was beinWHlsed as a house of ill-fame. X Senior- Sergeant Ruilfiofti^ppeared for the police and LaTfjaarßrradergast for:Refd/ wftb.pleaded?hWH#uJKy>' Both charges were heard together. Sergeant Matthews said that on February 7 ho EXECUTED A WARRANT at a house at 95 Union-street, occupied by Kate McCarthy and Gertrude Cadlgan. They were charged respectively with keeping and assisting m a house of ill- fame, and were each' convicted. The woman McCarthy took possession of the house m October. Constable McAlister said that he had had the house under observation since; the early part of January, and on several days from the 29th saw men visiting the house. The women McCarthy and Cadlgan occupied the house. They were prostitutes and • carried on prostitution. In January, witness saw Mr. Jenkins, agent for the house, and informed him that prostitution was being carried on m the house. Jenkins advised witness to Inform Reid • (the owner), and this witness did on January 16, when Reid said he would give the woman notice to quit. On January 22 the woman showed witness a notice to quit which she had received, but she was there, till February G, whon the police ' raided the house. ji Tha Ventbook showed that from the time witnes informed Reid of whaff was going on m the house, Reid had received three weekly payments # of rent of 12s Cd each. ' . . * \ Lawyer Prendergast : I put it to you that the first time you spoke to Jenkins about the house was the 22nd?— No, that cannot be right. \; : What makes you so positive it was the 15th? — I made a note m my book, ,• Witness here produced! his- notebook, and said that the notes were written on January 29, but .previously he had made a note on an envelope that he had Informed Reid, of his suspicions. Mr. Prendergast: Why I didn't you wrlto the note In your note-book at once?— Because I thought I COULD OET RID OP THE WOMAN. What steps did you take to get the woman out? — I informed Mr. Reid. I put it to you that you first spoke to Jenkins and Reid on January 22, and Reid then asked you if he gave the woman notice on the 29th f would that .be sufficient? — That is not so. ,'■ You say that the .woman Bhowed you her notice to quit. on the j^hd? — Yes; Did you make a note, of it?— Yes, on a piece of paper. Have you got that piece of paper ?- L,No. Now, when you spoke to Reid, didn't you say that you had every reason to nuapect that the place was a house of ill -fame, but that you did not have sufficient proof? — No, I told him It was, and he said ha would give her notice to quit. Did you evor tell the woman McCarthy she would have to leave tho place? — Yes, three or four times. , Didn't she, when she received the notice, come to you and, complain that •he was a respectable woman? — Yes. When was that?-— On tho 22nd, about 10 o'clock m tho mornlnff.\ She waa muddled with drink. What did sho say when you told her fho would have to leave the house?— Bhe said she would not go. You saw Reid on the day he got the ■ummons? — Yes. And he gavo you to understand that he had done all he could? — I think he was as anxious as I was to get rid of tho woman. Had you seen him before? — No, but f had heard of him. v Constable* Robinson, Clifford and Potter gavo evidence as to KEEPING THE HOUSE UNDER OBSERVATION, Itnd that they wore satisfied that Kate McCarthy was a prostitute and ran tho placo as a brothel. Constable Potter Added that McCarthy waa a registered barmaid, and early m February her husband went into camp.

Defendant, Walter Reid, said he ownId four houses alongside ' each other In Unlon-Btreot, and he collected the rents each Monday, and on no occasion when he called did ho boo anything which caused him to mispect tho house wan being conducted improperly. The Ural complaints defendant had were from neighbors McUonlghah and Connor, who complained that considerable drinking was being Indulged, In at the house occupied by McCarthy. That was on January 22, and, on the bo mo

day, Constable McAlister 'phoned Reid and informed him that he (the constable) had. suspicions that the place was a brothel, but had no proof. Defendant informed the constable that notice to quit would be given, and asked, as the woman had paid m advance,. If it would do if notice were given on the ,29th. IConstable McAlister replied that he would be satisfied, and on the 29th notice to quit was given Mrs. McCarthy, defendant's son delivering the notice. This meant that the tenancy would expire on February 5, and on that morning defendant went round collecting the rents, and saw .that the blinds of No. 95 Union-street were down, while a neighbor, Mrs. McKerina, told him they (meaning Mrs. iS^Carthy) were packing up. Why defendant was so positive that the first conversation with Constable McAlister was on . January 22, was because defendant himself „ • • , '■;• COLLECTED THE RENT on that" day and he, had not collected the rent for some weeks previously. Subsequently he had another conversation,, with McAlister, who was .not cer'ta'hi of*: tho 'dates; tandSfefendant 1 con-vinced-him that the first conversation over the 'phono took place on January 22, and the constable agreed. The constable again" agreed that the dates given m evidence by defendant were correct on Monday last. Previous to receiving the complaints defendant never had any reason to suspect' that the house was anything but well conducted. , ■•.... ■;>.. ;■..'-/•■ To Senior-sergeant Rutledge: He was positive that January 22 was the first intimation which he received that the place 1 was a house of -ill-tame", and he was. also positive^.that Constable McAlister said he would be satisfied if notice to quit were given on January 29. Ho emphatically denied that he was mainly concerned over getting the rent, but admitted that m a conversation with Sergeant' Xfafthews over the •phone he may havVYaidthVlaylng of the 1 information againaf' him was perseicution not prosecution. And he still thought so. > ( Charles B. Reid, soft of defendant, gavo evidence that he served notice to quit upon Mrs. McCarthy on January 29. Hewas certain of the date because It was a holiday. V- • ■.•;*• .'/ .

Clive T. Jenkins, grocer, who acts as Reid's agent, gave evidence as to conversations between* himself and McAlister and Reid. Witness always regarded the woman^as. being , \ TLDY, CLEAN, ANt> RESPECTABLE, and, \vas surprised when ho received a complaint from Constable McAlister about her. ,•

Elizabeth Connor, 89 Union-street, said on January 22 she complainod that there was considerable drinking and quarrelling going on m No. 95 and said that she, as one of his old tenants, knew that Reid would not put up with

His Worship adid.'he did not think there was any doubt about defendant's bonafldes m the/ rh'attejr.;' Hbwevor, he would reserve his dcision.