WOMAN BOUND OVER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17957, 8 December 1932, Page 4

WOMAN BOUND OVER

CONVICTED OF ASSAULT “MENACE TO NEIGHBORHOOD’’ “You are a menace to whatever neighborhood in which you reside,” said Mr. P. 11. Harper, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday afternon in binding over Mrs.. Eva Solomon to keep the peace. Mrs. Solomon pleaded not guilty to charges of using obscene language within a public place, of assaulting Mrs. T. Harris, and of behaivng in a disorderly manner within view of a public place. She was convicted on the second and third charges. The complainant, "Mrs. T. Harris, wife of tho borough pound keeper, stated that she bad been carrying 011 her husband's duties while lie was in hospital, and on the evening of November 28 stie impounded three cows belonging to the accused. One of the accused’s boys came for the cows, and when witness informed him that there was 9s to pay lie, used had language to her. The following morning Mrs, Solomon called and vised the language mentioned in the charge sheet. She did not want to pay anything for the release of the cows. Corroborative evidence was given by a- son and daughter of |he complainant.

Constable Cooper stated that at about 7 a.in. he received a telephone message from Mrs. Harris to the effect that Mrs. Solomon was “playing up,” and over the telephone witness could hear a loud thumping. As witness approached the house he could bear the accused shouting, and when he intervened he had to hold the accused to prevent her from striking Mrs. Harris. For the sake of peace and quietness, witness advised Mrs. Harris to let the cows go for 6s. and try to collect the balance later. Mrs. Solomon went home and got the 6s. At the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution. Mr. J. W. Blathwnyt, 'for the accused, submitted that the charge had not been proved, and further, that if the language had been used there was no evidence of anyone having been in the public place capable of hearing the language. Regarding the charges of assault and disorderly behavior, Mr, Blathwaytexplained that the whole trouble arose through ail over-charge in the poundage fees. He submitted that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charge. ■Senior-Scrgeant- Wade sulnnitied that the accused should he hound over to keen the peace. Tho magistrate remarked that the explanation that the accused had provocation for her behavior in that she considered that she had been charged an excessive fee was' no excuse for the filthy language she had used. “You are possessed,” he said, “not only of a violent temper, but also of a filthy tongue, and arc a menace to whatever neighborhood in which you happen to reside. This sort of thing can not he tolerated, and people are not to be terrified by a person like you, This behavior must cease, or you will find yourself in gaol. The use of obscene language is a serious offence, but there is just a shade of a doubt whether the charge has been proved. There is 110 doubt that the language was used, but there is some doubt whether there was anyone in the public place, and I propose to give you the benefit of the doubt.

“There is ample evidence.” continued the magistrate, “to prove that you did behave in a disorderly manner within view of a public place. I am satisfied also that you did behave in a threatening manner to Mrs. Harris amounting! to assault, and that they are in fear of you. You will be bound over to keep tbo peace, in particular to the witnesses today. If you get into trouble again, you will not he treated leniently. This' is your last chance.”

The charge of obscene language was dismissed, and 011 the charge of assault the accused was bound over to keep the peace in the sum of £lO in her own recognisance. On the other charge she was fined £l.