IN LENIENT MOOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10105, 17 March 1911, Page 3

IN LENIENT MOOD.

A SENTENCE REMITTED

Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., who presided at the Magistrate's. Court this morning, was in quite a lenient mood. Frank Duffy, a cook with a broad dialect, from some English shire, was charged with having assaulted Constable Hart last evening. Evidence was given by the constable that while he was arresting Mary Little on a charge of prostitution outside an oyster shop accused, who was her companion, had caught hold of his arm and had then been arrested by Constable Anderson.

A sentence of fourteen days' imprisonment was imposed. Mary Little was then charged with having importuned foot passengers for the purposes of prostitution and with being an idle and disorderly person, in that she had no visible lawful means of support. She pleaded not guilty to both charges. Constables Hart and Anderson said that last evening they had seen the woman speak to several men. She was often in the streets at night, and her house had been complained of as a brothel by the neighbours. The woman was known to be a prostitute. Accused made a statement in which she said that she had previously been" in bad company, but had recently been living with Duffy, and they had been trying to keep respectable. The men she had been talking to had been Duffy and his mate, " Long Dave," who had been grass-seeding. She had waited in the street for Duffy, who had that day received news of his father's death in England and was calling on his aunt. She asked that Duffy should be called as a witness.

The previous accused was then brought from the prisoner's room and placed in the witness-box. Mary Little tearfully asked him, " Ain't you keeping me, Frank?" and he replied that ho was. The woman sobbingly said that the harder she tried to keep quiet tho more the police harassed her. Addressing Mr Bailey, Duff said that he earned 35s a week as a cook, and ho and Littlo were trying to live honestly. "The detectives had visited the house' he added, "but they have found nothing wrong. Couldn't you make it a fine for me, Guv'nor, we are doing all right, and I am in a job. lhat detective over there knows my place, he came down once." He pointed to Detective Gibson. Duffy was ordered to stand down, and the Magistrate called Detective Uibson, who said that he had seen the two accused on the previous evening. They were with "big Dave," a man named M'Keown, and the three were m several hotels. As far as he knew tho woman had taken the advice given her by the police, and she and Duify seemed to be keeping straight. Mr Bailey said that in, view of the remarks made by the detective he would make an exception in Duffy's case. Ho did not usually fine people who interferred with the police, but as accused had a fair character given him, he would remit the sentence and impose a fine of £3, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Mary Little was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on the charge of prostitution, and the charge of being idlo and disorderly was dismissed. Addressing the accused, Mr Bailey said that he had dealt leniently with thorn, and warned them to try and. be respectable. If they appeared again they would be severely dealt with. The pair left tho dock, wearing relieved expressions.