A PECULIAR CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8395, 19 January 1889, Page 4

A PECULIAR CASE.

Ihe young man, Gerald Ernest Hodgs/oli, who was remanded on Thursday on a charge of stealing £7* from Ada Cahill, of Wellington, was brought before Mr Carew at the Xesident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Accused, who had bsen arrested on board the Mr.raroa b 7 Detective Henderson, reiterated his state ment as to the charge being a trumped-up one by a ttn W°n 7 V lO £ anted t0 ** W« hStWef hngton. Detective Henderson stated that a warrant had been issued at Wellington, and application was now made that he might be remanded to appear there on Tuesday next. The Wellington police a£ vised that accused had not only robbed the woman but had deserted his illegitimate child, of which shS was the mother. The accused said there was vl h,"VV Ci'? rge,1- ,The woman was all abandoned character, and he did not see why her word shou'd wl££ cM c UiS' H° WM °n his Wto Melbourne, where he lad every prospect of obtaining employ' ment. and it was very hard that he should be stopped He had first-class testimonials. Detective Heuderl sou produced a telegram from Wellington in wWct it was slated that prcseeutrix insisted that accused should be brought back to Wellington. Accused produced a testimonial from Mr John Black storekeeper in the Postal and Telegraph department the signature to wnich was vouched for 07 Mr Buttchief postmaster here. This his Worship decided to" look at under the circumstances. Accused also produced aa introduction to a well-known firm "a Me bourne He asked if it was likely, suppSsW he had really intended to commit a theft, tC hi r'"?«;B"». *>™t it in ".eh a roundabout way! The woman probably thought to got him to marry her if she got him back. She had said that if he SW,",1 "™ Wellington she would chase hint a" °\" th^P Ia. c. c:. an? the information vas laid out of spite. Wasithkeiy that he would run the risk w w\?V Iv h, aF acte" for Hfe. He had thrown up his billetm V\ ellington simply for fear of this woman, and it he now went back it would be very difficult for him to get a place again. He waa travelling ia his own name, and had purchased his ticket. His\\orship said it was admitted by the police that the woman who laid the information was a questionable character. On the other hand, accused had produced a document showing that he had been 111 tha Government service until the 12th January, and on leaving received a testimonial as to'liis trustworthiness. It seeimd to him (Mr Carew) that ifc r«°w^r ea fVere at hardshi P to send the man back to V, ellington. There was only a small amount of money involved, and to send tho man back would mean temporary ruin to him. Further, if tha eaise ultimately broke down, accused would have no remedy, the information having been laid by a person of no standing. In view of all the circumstances, he (Mr Carew) did not skj his way to grant the application. Accused would bo discharged.