THE WRONG BED. Remarkable Freak at Richmond.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11644, 23 August 1905, Page 6

THE WRONG BED. Remarkable Freak at Richmond.

Eobert Carr, a middle-aged telegraph linesman (says the Auckland Star), by some strange mishap found himself in another man's bed the other niglit. The night' was April '22, and the bed was the. bed'of Mr Taylor, of Queen Street,' Eichmond. Mrs Taylor was the first adult person to discover., the intrusion, her attention -being"'attracted' by the crying of her little six-year-old girl, whom she had previously tucked up in her father's bed. The little child was calling out, "A man is hurting me," and a man's voice was heard muttering, "You little beggar,- keep qiiicf." The mother ran into the room, wliei'O she was horrified to see- the half rbalcl head of a strange man, who was lying un,der the bed clothes beside her little child. She snatched up the child and ordered the man to go away. "Instead of complying,however, he merely rolled over into a more comfortable attitude and remained. Mrs Taylor dashed away for assistance, and brought back two carriers who lived close by named- Judd and Jones. They went, into the room -with a light and found the man, still lying in- bed, staring at them; "Here! you're iv the wrp.ng bed," said Judd. "I don't care a whose bed I'm in," • was the unexpected reply, and the in- - truder pulled the clothes more tightly around .him. <:: "You'd better get oiit," persisted the irrepressible- Judd. "We don't want a row with .you.", ' Then, very reluctantly, the man rojlecl out into the cold of an April evening. There had, evidently, been reason in his reluctance, for his total, attire consisted of-u singlet and socks. His pants were hanging close at hand, and he got into thejiOviihouj; delay,-and wu3 accompanied 2 to his lodgings. Incidentally he was charged with indecently assaulting the little girl, and the merits of the'case were • considered by Mr. Justice -Edwards and a Supreme Court jury o.n Friday morning. Mr J. C. Martin defended the accused, and admitted the act of intrusion', but denied any assault. It was surmised by the witnesses that Carr had entered tlic room by the open window. ■ Judd.and Jones considered that the man had been drinking, although his ability to put his.trousers on convinced them that he was-not very drunk. » Mrs Carr, the man's wife, gave cvi- . dence -that her husband had a sunstroke. in Australia, and was forbidden by the doctor to drink. On the night of the occurrence he. had considerable liquor, which ap2>arently turned, his head. The jury found the prisoner guilty of common assault. The accused said his actions were due to dfink. His Honor said the wives and children and homes of the inhabitants must be profcectod, and people who got drunk and did this sort of thing must be punished. He . sent the .prisoner to gaol for a year.