HUNTING IN PACKS

NZ Truth, Issue 935, 27 October 1923, Page 5

HUNTING IN PACKS

Onehunga Trinity's Terrible Tale Barton's Pals Try To Save Him. .There was another case of hunting girls m packs illustrated at the Onehunga (Auckland) Magistrate's Court, quite on a par with, if not worse than, the Wancar.ui affair recently reported m "Truth/ 1 m which Magistrate Hunt Was called upon to decide the paternity of the illegitimate child of Margaret Kathleen Harllck, who asked for an affiliation order against a young man teamed Cecil Barton. 'This individual brought along a couple of SHAMELESS COMPANIONS, Who swore to having misconducted themselves with Kathleen on the same occasions as the defendant. It was an awful indictment of the morals of some of the youth of this generation and of the laxity with which some of its representatives regard sexual misconduct. Solicitor R. N. Matthews appeared for the girl (who did not soem to realise her shame) and Lawyer B. N. Moody appeared on behalf of the alleged father, Barton. Margaret Kathleen Harllck said her age was 22 and that dn August 5, 1923, her child was born— a girl. Its name was Doreen Joyce, and Cecil Barton was the father. She often went to the picturea and walks with Cecil, and m June they first had intercourse, at Hula, down the Mannkau, and pretty frequently alter that To Mr. Moody witness said June 3, 1922, was the first tlmjj. She put it down on a bit of paper. She denied having bpen on similar relations with Newsome, Henderson, Filmer and others. When she. knew she was m. trouble she told defendant a week later— and he laughed at her. She told ho one else, at the time. Margaret Harllck, mother of the girl, said the child was born on August 5. Barton was sent for and ho came at 7 p.m. He aaid, "How is Kathleen? The thing has happened when I have no money." Witness asked him if his mother had any clothes. He said he would see arid come around m the j morning. He said . ' HE WOULD BRING SOME MONEY then. He knew witness was poor. He never turned up again. Witness met him on Wednesday, about 14 days after the child was born, and said, "What are you going to do with that:?" pointing to the "pram." Ho said, "How do I know it is mine?" Then he said, "Who is going to keep It?" The girl said, "I am," "How much do you want?" he asked, and the girl iaid "12/6." "You don't want much," he said, and she replied, "The law will allow me that." "We will fight it out < m .Court; how do you know it's mine?" asked, Bartoti again. He mentioned no names; then he said he would pay 12/6 and start on Saturday, Witness told Sergeant, Crulckehank about it all. Defendant came to the house again and said to witness's husband, "I don't see how I can pay l£/6, because my job won't last long. How about taking a lump sum? I have not much, but I can borrow." The father said he would see him on Saturday as he was no scholar and could hot draw Up papers. , „ To Mr, Moody: When witness heard first of her daughter's condition she did not say "The child must have a father." Barton aaked the girl how much she wanted and she said we would fight it out In Court. Then he said he would pay. I wanted it paid into Court. He NEVER DENIED paternity, She was never allowed out at night. Ernest George Harlick, father of the girl, said he conversed about the birth with Barton, who contended that 12/6 a week was too much. . The first witness for the defence was Harold Filmer, who said he was a motor driver, of Onehunga, aged 20. "I know complainant," he said. "I have had intercourse with her — at the beginning of November or the end of October; I could not swoar definitely. Defendant also had intercourse at the same time. In my presence, as did Henderson also. Tho three of us were together. On more than one occaBion this took place." Witness gave details. To Mr. Matthews: The first and second time tUere wera three present. They were all mates. The third time ther.e were two present. Henderson had cleared out. He had NOT. TALKED OVER the case with Barton. Ernest Herbert Newsome, aged 19,' said ha knew the girl and had had intercourse with her. The first time was the election day, when defendant did the same. She was Barton's friend, and she suggested it. Witness knew Henderson, too. He was his friend and he was friendly with Kathleen 'before .witness was. . Cecil Barton then, gave evidence. He said he had known the girl for 12 months. He and Henderson used to meet her two or three times a week arid the same thing occurred. There were always the three of them together. This went on for eomo time. He never had her by himself, Henderson and he were together when Filmer came along. The I THREE OF THEM i were together and all' misbehaved wish thp girl: That happened several times. When Harllck left a message at witness's house witness went there. Harlick and the wife went to the bedroom, i They said nothing and left the room. Witness aald to Kathleen, "Why did you blam« me?" She said, "You were the first on« I thought of. She said, "It will come out all right." Witness want out to tho kitchen to her father and talked about one thing and another, but not about tho girl. He stopped there till 9 p.m., and then went home. Nothing wao said ABOUT MOi^EY OR CLOTHES. Going to work one day, witness met Mrs. Hftrllek. She said. "What are you goins to do about this?" Witness said ho was 1 not the father and that lie was not going to keep it. He told her about the other men. She said, "That does not matter; if there are 100 there could only bo one father. You had better consent to an order for 12/6 yer week." Witness replied, "I cannot pay it." She said, -I shall take it to Court." That was tho last he heard about it till he got the summons. Nothing whatever was said about a, lump sum or borrowing money. „ „,, To Mr. Matthews: I told Filmer she was In trouble— about a u.uk ufter she told me. It was twelve months ago elnoe 1 started having intercourse with her, but there were always two or throe of us together. I never hud intercourse with her without someone olso boliiß there. Magistrate Hunt made an order adjudging tho defendant tho putative father and ordered him to pay 12/ C per week maintenance; also confinement expenses £6 ss; past maintenance £5 12a 6d, and solicitors' coats £3 Ss.