MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 223, 14 June 1919, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

YOUNG WOMAN CHARGED WITH ' ASSAULT - SHORT SHRIFT PROM THE BENCH .'. The proceedings ,it the 'Magistrate's Court yesterday were presided over by Mr. ]?. V. Frazer, S.M. A young woman named Cecilia Hunter was charged with having assaulted Emily Jane. Ldwis, and Mabel Parker, on tho Thorndon Esplanade on May. 9. . '.' , ..The evidence ,fqr,,tho prosecution, waa that about 5 p.m. on May 9 Mrs. Lewis and her sister, Miss Parker, were walking on tho Thorndon Esplanade. Defendant Hunter was sitting with a man, who remarked to the complainants, "Wouldn't you like to Bit here? One of the women replied, "No, thank you," and they both walked on. Suddenly defendant appeared behind them and struck and kicked each .of them. Mrs. Lewis said that defendant waa under the influence of liquor, and levelled a. Wow at witness -which raised a lump behind her ear. Both complainants denied that they knew defendant ot that they had cast reflections on her having been at Pakatoa. ■ Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for defendant Hunter, who, he said, had been an iumato of Pnkatoa Inebriates' Home. To tho charge of assaulting Mrs. Lewis defendant desired to plead guilty under provocation. ' ■ ■ ,- Defendant denied that she was under the influence of liquor at tho time. She said that Mrs. Lewis reminded her of the, factWiat she had been.in Pakatoa, and as she was very sensitvo on the point she lost her temper and'struck the women. The girl Parker ran away, and defendant -ayerred that she did not touch her. Cross-examined by Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson, defendant said she had ueen in Pnkatoa for six months. Since her release she had tried to keep straight and be respectable, but found it to bo impossible on account of being continually reminded, of the fact tlffit she-had boon on the island. ■ ■ Mr. Emerson: Tour husband ;s still away with the troops ?—"Yes." Mr. Emereon : You haven't been "doing vour bit," you know, while he was away. You have 'been locked up for drunken, ness. His Worship: How much do you get per week ?— "£%." His Worship: And yet you say yon can't live respectably. Why, any younft woman like you getting ;£2 a week would be glad to go into the country to try to live a respectable life. Doi! , !; como and tell me such "tripe" as that. If you came and told me the truth I'd believe it, perhaps. Go and get out! Fined £\ on each charge, with ss. witnesses' expenses! ■Defendant left the . Courtroom very suddenly. . ' ' '