MARRIED MAN AND GIRL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 12

MARRIED MAN AND GIRL

DENIALS BY “MR X." • MENACES CHARGE (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Nov. 24. A married man. who was referred to as “Mr X,” denied under crossexamination at Birmingham yesterday being found with a 23-year-oM girl when she was under the influence of drink and clad in pyjamas. When he was asked if he was ashamed of his association with the girl he replied: “ I am very ashamed. It has taught me a lesson.” Irene Freeth, of Ninevah road, Handsworth, Birmingham, and Joseph Henry Tickle, a commission agent,, of Oxhill road, Handsworth, pleaded not guilty to demanding money with menaces from “Mr X," and were committed for trial, bail being continued. On Monday Mr M. P. Pugh, prosecuting. alleged that Freeth had threatened to go to “Mr X’s” wife unless he.paid £lO for two illegal operations, and Tickle, a married man, threatened violence. GIRL IN TEARS ' “ Mr X’’ agreed that there had been acts of familiarity befWeen himself and Freeth, whom he met in a public house, but denied that he could have been responsible for her condition. His wife knew nothing of the association nor of the case. Cross-examining “ Mr X ” yesterday, Mr H. Eaden (defending) said: “ I suggest to you that on at least five occasions she undressed and came down in her nyjamas, and misbehaviour took place at her home, her mother being put?,” .. . “ No, definitely not, { not on one .occasion,” “Mr X” replied. When “Mr X” was answering questions about a time he took her out in his. car, Freeth burst into tears in the dock, and was consoled by a policewoman and Tickle. FELL FROM WINDOW “Mr X” denied that after the trip the girl’s .mother found, them-in -the house, Freeth' being in pyjamas and dressing-gown and Under the influence of drink. He denied that he ever went into the house' on ; that occasion. ': *;;: Referring to an accident to Freeth in September, when she fell from an office window in Corporation street, Birmingham, “ Mr X” agreed that'the following day he went to. see the girl’s, mother. .-. ■ ; Mr Eaden: Did you think she had tried to commit suicide?—No, it never entered my head. . ; Re-examined by Mr Pugh, “ Mr . X ” said that never during the talk about an illegal operation in January did Freeth conceal the fact that Tickle was responsible fbr her condition. When his evidence concluded. “Mir X ” had been over four hours: in the witness box.'.,!i 3 ’t . ; ,• LETTERS READ/ f ; ' ; Detective-inspector Sanders said that two letters in Tickle’s hand-writing-were' found in Freeth’s'handbag. One addressed to Miss Freeth at Dudley Road Hospital said: “ You will be pleased to know when I have got faith in you again., . . . I love' you so much, my pigeon, I Icve you, darling.” It was signed “ Joe,” and there were four crosses at the end. *' ' ’ Another letter ran: “Darling, there is no one else in the world for me but you. . . . You are my wonderful girl lover, and to me you will always stay so, even if I were, a million miles away from you. I am just going to put my arms around, you and go to sleep.” The officer said that Tickle’s wife had been present in court during part of the proceedings. - ' ■ DEFENCE CLAIM When evidence for the prosecution was concluded, Mr Eaden, defending, submitted that the only evidence of menaces against Freeth was a threat to tell “Mr X’s” wife, which was far short of what was intended by the Act. The only serious allegation against Tickle was that he said to “Mr X “ I will cut you up into small pieces,” and similar remarks, which again did not satisfy the statute. He submitted that the young woman honestly believed she was entitled to the money. . The stipediary overruled the sub---mission.