TO COMPROMISE WIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1925, Page 3

TO COMPROMISE WIFE

COME TO THE I’.AC II I” WELLINGTON, April I. The signing of another man's name on a telegram, in order to compromise his wife, resulted in the appearance of William Joseph M right at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with using a person’s name without aulboritv.

The c harge. said Chiel-Dctectivc Kemp, was laid under section 11; I! of Ibe l'u-l ami Telegranh AH. IfHN. a breach of which rendered a person liable to a line of Llllt) or one year’s imprisonment. In the present c\ase defendant and his wife had not been living hapnilv for sonic' time. The defendant supposed his wile to he visitiue; a man mimed V\ i I limn W illiams. lu order to find out it this were so, he dispatched a telegram to his wife, which was signed “ Billy Williams.” and read : ‘‘Come to the bach at once. Sent with the idea of getting his wife to William’s bach, this plan did not succeed, as she did not fall for his trick'. Defendant had been previously before tlie* court in 11)1(5 anil 1021, for theft, and for a breach of the peace in 1022. The case was practicallv one of forgery, said the Chief Detective, and whatever its merits the nolice were only concerned with the fact (hat accused had used another man’s name. Mr A. B. Sievwrigth, appearing for accused, agreed with the facts as outlined, hv the Chief Detective. IL was submitted, however, that the offence was an extremely trivial one. Defondant adopted this subterfuge in order to obtain definite evidence against Ids wife. Taking all the circumstances into account, the case warranted merely a nominal penalty, which won hi serve to show the accused and the' public. at large that they could not use fictitious names on telegrams. Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.: Ihe only feature about the ease is that the telegram might have compromised his wife and the other man. Mr Sievwright: We say they are already compromised, and are prepared t() ~-iv'e evidence along those lines. Mr Orr-Walker: I think the ollenee calls for a fine of <25 and costs.