WRESTLER IN COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20452, 2 November 1934, Page 11

WRESTLER IN COURT.

Projected Tour of U.S.A. Delayed. PASSPORT IRREGULARITIES. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, November 1. Trouble over passports delayed Meynell Blomfield, aged twenty-nine years, a professional wrestler who intended to sail for America to fulfil engagements there. It was stated in the course of Court proceedings that Blomfield intended to take a lady friend with him. Blomfield, who was arrested by a de tective, was charged in the Police Court with attempting to obtain a passport by the false pretence that a signature “L. Blomfield ” was his wife's. lie w’as also charged with forgery in respect of a passport. Lily Ma} r Balenzuela, twenty-four years of age, was charged with making ' a false passport declaration. The evidence showed that Blomfield had been separated from his wife for five years, and lie had been paying her £2 10s mainter/nce, which was paid up. Concerning a third charge, against Blomfield relating to the maintenance order. Mr F. W. Schramm reminded the Magistrate (Mr Hunt) that he‘had applied to Mr Hunt some time ago for a permit to travel to America. The maintenance order in favour of Blomfield’s wife and two children had been faithfully paid up by him. “ Yes. that charge must be dismissed,” said the Magistrate. “He took all the necessary precautions.” “ Stretching the Law.” Respecting the other two indictable charges against Blomfield. Mr Schramm said that it seemed as if the law was being stretched by charging Blomfield with forgery. “ The most that he did was to hold this young woman out as his wife.” said counsel. “ I suggest that the ends of justice could be met by reducing the charge.” Mr Hunt: Yes, it does seem like employing a steam hammer, to crack a nut. What have you got to say about the charge, Mr Hall? Senior Detective Hall said he had been instructed to proceed with the charges indictably." The Magistrate: Very well, then. We will hear the evidence. After hearing witnesses the Magistrate said: I think I can adequately deal with him in this court instead of sending him up for trial to the Supreme Court and putting the country to expense. After all, this is not a court of morals. It was wrong of him to do what he did, but the ends of justice will be met- if I reduce the charge to one of attempted false pretences and fine him £5. The other two charges were dismissed.

Mr Schramm said the charge against Miss Balenzuela should also be reduced, as she had been misled by Blomfield. “ Yes, I think so,” said the Magistrate. “ There is no need to deal with the matter too strictly. She will be convicted and discharged.” However, when the matter of the expenses of Mrs Blomfield. who had to come up from Wairoa for the case, were mentioned by Mr Hall, the Magistrate reduced the fine of £5 against Blomfield to one of £3 and convicted and discharged Miss Balenzuela on payment of £8 5s expenses. ” Blomfield will have to pay the lot, I suppose,” added the Magistrate. “ I think the ends of justice have been met in these cases. After all. no one was hurt.” Five Months' Contract. In the course of a statement to the police, Blomfield (who is known in the wrestling worJ.a as Walter Browning), said; “ I entered into a contract to wrestle in America for the Bowser Syndicate of Boston, U.S.A. I have entered into this contract with Dan Koloff, who is their representative here.” Blomfield said he had agreed to wrestle in America for about five months, and arrangements had been made for him to enter America for six months and then leave the country. “ I proposed taking my lady friend with me. and, to simplify her entry into the United States, I put her down as my wife, so that she would not have, any difficulty in entering that country. If I had not done this Miss Balenzuela would have to find a 1000-dollar bond before she would be allowed in the country. T had no intention of evading my payments under the maintenance order. T will be back in New Zealand within six months, as I cannot get a permit to enter America unless I have a return ticket booked from New Zealand.

“In stating that I was not leaving any dependents I was \mder the impression that, as they were provided for by me, they would not be classed as dependents.”