In the Wake of the Fleet

NZ Truth, Issue 1031, 29 August 1925, Page 8

In the Wake of the Fleet

+. Sydney Belles Arrested m Auckland Much has been heard and written m Auckland of the activities of the capricious Cupid amongst the sailors of the American Navy and the youth and beauty of the Queen City. Some of the picturesque romance outlined m these matters, however, was shattered when four belles from Sydney appeared before S.M. Hunt charged with managing and assisting m the management of a brothel.

Kathleen Kersh .alias Healy (23), Maud O'Sullivan (23~), Rose Brecknell (25), and Lucielle Wardwell (25) were the damsels concerned, and appeared on the sinister change indicated above, Kathleen Korsh -as being- the alleged manager of a brothel at 49, East Street Newton, and the others as being her assistants. Mb. X J. Sullivan acted Jior the women anfd Sergeant Calwell asked for a remand for a week. A NEWLY MADE BRIDE. Mr. Sullivan opposed the remand.

j-ie saici tne women were lour sisters and had just come over from Sydney. "Mr. Hunt: Following the fleet were they? Mr. Sullimn: One of them, sir, is married to a "sailor on the Mississippi. Wardwell's husband was a memb-sr of the crew of that vessel and had been married the Tuesday previous. The certificate of marriage had been m accused's possessions and was m the hands of the police. He considered it should have been produced. .Bricknell on the other hand was to marry a sailor m. a day or two and it was the celebra-tion of the anticipated wedding that was being carried on when the police*, interrupted the festivities. Mr. Hujnt: "Was he a sailor on one of the shftps? Mr. SulJßvan: Yes, sir. Mr. Hunt: Well,- I think I should be doing him a'goocl turn if I did not give bail. Mr. Sullivan: The women are strangers here, sir, and it is impos- • sible fo/r them to find bail. One of. the others 'is the wife of a. sailor on the DauntSess. All the women, he said, cquM explain their position fairly and honestily. The question was that it had- ix>t been proved that the house was a;n immoral one. The- S.M.: It is a bailable offence, no doubt. Counsel: It is most unfair, sir, that these women should be kept m custody. ' - The S.M.: It may be unfair to them but -it is fair to the public. Tell me sorr»e of the story, Sergeant. SOME OF THE STORY. Sergeant Calwell: This house, sir, was let to the women charged with

keeping a brothel on August 13. It is a 12 -roomed house, furnished, and since it was let there have been numerous complaints of the manner m which it has been conducted. It is alleged to have been a disorderly house, and thai every night there have been between 30 and 40 men going and leaving the place. " The S.M.: A'• pretty extensive clientele. , Sergeant Calwell: The state of the house, sir, is disgusting. Several cf the Windows are broken, and the smell

m the house is nauseating. When.we house was raided there were IS American sailors on the premises. They left quietly under the advice of patrolmen who composed part of the raiding party. Counsel asked that the married woman at least be given. bail. Ife said he would require, the husband to give evidence and asked that the case should proceed. The S.M.: It might be a good thing for the husband if she was not liberated. Sergeant Calwell: The marriage took place, sir, on the 17th of this month. • The S.M.: Well, I will give this one bail. Counsel: It is impossible to get any one to go bail for them here, sir. BAIL REFUSED. The S.M.: Well, I can't liberate them without bail. There is too much of this sort of thing going on. If this man was married to the accused a .few days ago I am prepared to give bail. Counsel: I ask, sir, m view of the parties being married, the "Wife be allowed out. The S.M.: I will allow the one married bail; I am not allowing bail m the other cases. Counsel: I ask, sir, that bail be cjivGn« The S.M.: (heatedly): Well, I refuse. That is all to it. Counsel: Well, sir, I ask to withdraw from the case. I can do nothing further for the women. Bail was allowed m £100 m an approved surety and the case was remanded \till August 29.