SERIOUS OFFENCE.

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 11, 9 August 1928, Page 7

SERIOUS OFFENCE.

HABBOTTRHSTG AN ESCAPEE

The fact that one may not harbour -an escapee from a place of detention, even at the expense of keeping one' 3 home together, was impressed on Samson Hawkins, a labonirer, who appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M. in the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court yesterday. Hawkina, who was charged with harbouring a girl who had escaped f rom ( the Girls' Homo, Burwood, Christchurch entered a plea of guilty. According to Sergeant McHolm, the • <nrl, a sister of accused's wife,' escaped from detention at Christchurch, and came to the North Island. The police interviewed accused, who denied that she was in his house. They went away, - fII KI came back later, when they search- ■* the house. The girl was found un-

dcx a.bed. It was then discovered that she had been there for a week. Mr G-. Findlay, who appeared for Hawkins said that accused had allowed the girl to hide in the ihouse, in order to prevent further trouble with his wife, who threatened to run away if the girl was handed over to the police. The wife having left home once before the husband thought that he had better let the giTl stay in the_ house rather than nave his wife "break up the home" again. Counsel added that when accused first came upon the girl, she was in the street with a young man. He stopped her, and told her to go home. Mr Findlay added that his client had always borne .an excellent character. Unfortunately, he was absolutely illiterate, and could neither read nor write. The.wife was a native woman, I who possibly did not look on the of- ( fence in thesame light as others did. The Magistrate remarked that it.was a serious offence to harbour anyone who had escaped from lawful detention, and pointed out to accused that such an offence could result in his being fined £50 or being sent to prison for three months. However, considering the circumstances of the case he thought that a fine would be necessary in order that it might impress on the wife that the girl must not be harboured should she escape a»gain. *--, | Accused was fined £3 and costs.