HOUSE WAS HAUNT OF UNDESIRABLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 9

HOUSE WAS HAUNT OF UNDESIRABLES.

MAN FOUND BY NIGHT, AND WARNED OFF. A woman’s hat, some underclothes, a man in gaol, women, and No. 62, St Asaph Street, were all mixed up in a case heard at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr IT. A. Young, S.M. It all began quietly enough. Percy Nixon Robinson was charged with being on premises in Sydenham by night without lawful excuse. He pleaded not guilty. William Michael Hill was the first witness called for the prosecution. In reply to Sub-Inspector Mathew. Ilill said that he was a half-brother of the owner of No. 62. St Asaph Street, a man named Craddock, who was at present undergoing a gaol sentence. Witness was looking after the house. Last night he got the keys of the house, and on reaching it, about 8.30 p.m., found the front gate locked. He was opening it when he saw defendant approaching from the house. Witness asked him what he was doing, but got no reply. Witness had had trouble with this house before, through people going there. Robinson had been warned before not to go there. Accused: Didn’t I come to see your father about a hat belonging to me that he’d got ? Witness: No, you didn’t. Accused: I did. I haven't been to the house before. Witness: You have. I’ve got a witAccused: Has anybody seen me there, or interfere with anything in any shape or fopn? Witness: Yes. Accused: Your father asked me to stop there. Witness: No, he didn't. Continuing, Hill said that he had locked the gate again, -to keep Robinson on the place while he called the -police. Witness and a friend who was with him were going away when Rob inson, who must have jumped the gate, got out and went off down the'.street. Witness and his friend chased Robinson and “collared” him on the street. Percival John Edwards, labourer, of Sydenham, who was with Hill at the time, gave evidence along similar lines. David Hill, father of the first witness, said that he knew Robinson. Witness had been left in charge of the house Sub-Inspector Mathew: Do you know what sort of company Robinson keeps? Witness: No. I don’t follow the man round to see what company he keeps. Accused: Didn't I see you on Tuesday and ask you to leave one or two things from the house at my boardinghouse ? Witness: Yes. The Magistrate: What were the things? Witness: A woman's hat and some underclothes. I left them where he told me to leave them. He saw me on Tuesday and asked me to leave them at his boarding-house. Witness, Craddock and Robinson used to live at 62, St Asaph Street. The things were left in the house when the owner. Craddock, went-to prison. The others went away then. There was nothing else in the house now.

Sub-Inspector Mathew: Was Robinson one of the men that Craddock got into trouble over?

Witness: He had a good deal to do with it.

Choosing to enter the witness-box himself, Percy Nixon Robinson said that he went to the house to see about this hat and clothes. He hopped over the fence as he had done hundreds of times. He was a frequent visitor to the house.

Sub-Inspector Mathew: With married women and undesirables.

Summing up, the Magistrate said that in the past the house had been used as a meeting place for undesirables. Defendant, had apparently lived there for some time. The person in charge while the owner was away had not warned defendant to keep away. When found, defendant was simply walking round to the front gate. He spoke to Ilill on Tuesday about some goods then at the house, and went there to see about them. The case was dismissed.