“A PEEPING TOM.”

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 9

“A PEEPING TOM.”

RESIDENTS KEEP VIGIL. ARREST MADE, BITT PROSECUTION FAILS. Auckland, December 17The west and east, districts of Hamilton arc apparently not alone in possession of a peeping Tom. Frankton has one also. For some time women of the railway suburb have been scared by the nocturnal prowling© of some person who has been creeping round different bouses, peeping through bedroom windows, and watching occupants in the act of retiring. The district has, in fact, been agog with excitement, and for some weeks a watch has been set by a large number of men folk of the neighbourhood to try and catch the intruder. On a recent night Mr Herbert Mullins, a carrier, caught a young man named Mervin Ransom, an employee of the Dairy Company’s tin manufactory, outside a. bedroom window, and gave him in charge- To-day Ransom was charged w’ith being a rogue and vagabond and being on enclosed premises without lawful excuse. His Worship said that while he had no doubt accused was on the land for the purpose of peeping through a window and watching the inmates of the home going to bed, he could not on the evidence be convicted of being a rogue and vagabond. Also, there was no evidence to show he was on enclosed premises. His Worship was compelled, with reluctance, therefore, to dismiss the charge. If, accused, however, persisted in this practice, of peeping through windows he would land himself in gaol sooner or later.