EVIL ENVIRONMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17410, 12 December 1924, Page 10

EVIL ENVIRONMENT.

CASE OF MRS CROUCH. PROBATION GRANTED. The evil influence of a bad environment was the explanation which Mr Hunter gave for the downfall of Mary Wann Crouch, who appeared for sentence at the Magistrate's Court to-day on a charge of sly-grog selling, and a further charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. The accused was before the Court on Wednesday, when she and her husband were charged with sly-grog selling at what was described as “ the lowest house in the city.” The husband was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Airs Crouch was remanded to appear for sentence to-day. Mr Hunter said that the Court was apparently acting on the assumption that the woman was a drunkard. Although she lived in evil surroundings, she had had no drink since she became subject to a prohibition order three months ago. The only evidence that she drank was that given by a constable who visited the house and asked her to have a drink “ just to show there’s no illfeeling.” Mrs Crouch had left the boarding-house now, and her husband, who was a bad influence, was in gaol. “ I submit that when she’s away from the bad influences, she's a good woman, and she should be admitted to probation on stringent terms,” said Air Hunter.

Maureen Jones, eldest daughter of the accused, said that her mother hadn't had a drink for “ quite an age.” The witness was aged sixteen, and her mother looked after four young children well. “ This woman,” said the Magistrate (Mr AA'yvcrn Wilson), “was some time ago, with her husband, fined £SO for sly-grog selling. Subsequently, she came before me on a charge of using obscene language. Liquor is the cause of her downfall, and not only did she break her prohibition order but she had a large quantity of liquor in her house also.”

On the major charge. Mrs Crouch was admitted to probation for three years, a special term being that she should be subject to a prohibition order each year. “If she does not consent to that, she will come up for sentence again.” On the charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, the woman was fined 20s.