A PECULIAR CASE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 94, 15 January 1920, Page 5

A PECULIAR CASE

COLOURED MAN FINED J65. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, beforo Mr. P. L. Holliiigs, S.M., a coloured man named Felix Ernest James was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond in that he was found by night without lawful excuso in a certain house in "Willis Street. Mr. 11. 1\ O'Leary appeared for tho accused. Detective-Sergeant Rawde, in outlining tho case, said tho accused had kept company for some time with Norah Brosmihan. a barmaid at the Alhambra Hotel, and tho parties were to,have been married. Tho relatives of the woman strongly objected to the union, and tho engagement was broken off. On Sunday night, January 4, the accused entered the bedroom occupied by Miss Brosnahan without permission, hence tho charge..' - Norah Brosnahan, the complainant, iiaid that she occupied a room at a house in Willis Street, and on the Sunday in question retired to bed about 0 p.m. She locked the door and pulled down tho window-blinds. The windows were not quite closed. She wont to sleep, and was aroiised about 0.45 a.m., by the light in her room being switched on, and she saw tho accused in her room.- "ihe called out, and assistance was forthcoming. ; She had promised to marry the accused, hut tho engagement had oeeji oroken off. To Mr. O'Leary, witness stated that she would have married| tho accused, but for the.objection of her relatives. She had walked out with James since then, and on Friday, January 2, he walked along with her to her home. Accused had not abandoned hope of marrying her. While lie was in the room ho used no violence and said nothing objectionable. Accused had .written to her. after his arrest explaining why ho had coma into her room, and asking for a reply, but witness did not answer the letter. Slio'went to tho Terrace Gaol to sco tho accused. Detective Carney, who arrested the accused on January 7, said that James mado a statement, that was taken down in writing and signed. In this ho detailed how he got into the room, and admitted that ho had no right to havo been on tho premises. Tho witness stated that about two or three months ago. at the request of Miss Erosiiaham he spoke to tho accused and warned him against following her about. Mr. O'Leary, for the defence, said tho facts were not disputed, but 1.0 was entitled to say that the man should not be convicted of 'being a rogue and a vagabond, as the charge did not f;t the com. Tho matter was simple enough when one knew the relations between tho parties. He submitted that it was not a matter, for a heavy penalty. "It was tho action of a love-sick coon, trying to make it up with his lady-love," remarked counsel. The man's behaviour was not in any way reprehensible. Tho Magistrate convicted the accused, and fiiud him A and ordered him to pay the expenses of tlvrgo witnesses, lin default, one month's imsrisonment.