GOOD SAMARITAN

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1926, Page 4

GOOD SAMARITAN

CHRISTIAN MAX’S ACT

BEEXHEIM, March. 17

Unchecked applause excited by the act of a Christian man, as he called himself, was heard in the Magistrate's Court this morning. The case was one in which a docent-looking woman. Wd.osc name, was given as A 1 illy Davies, was charged'with lining an idle and disorderly person, having no lawful visible means of support. .Relating the pathetic story, Constable Mealy said that the unfortunate woman lmd not been “given lair spin,” by her husband, who had dragged her about the country, and left tier destitute on more than one occasion. She hud recently been lound wandering penniless about Wellington with a child. The child had been committed to a Hume, and the woman had also been sent to a- Home lor a week, but her husband then got hold ol her. and brought her to Blenheim. They stayed at two hotels here without paying hoard and, although the husband had two jobs offered to him. lie had not taken up either, but hail obtained £5 by alleged false- pretences, for which he had since been arrested. He was to he brought before the Court shortly. The couple ultimately lei I Blenheim on the service ear for Nelson, hut could not pay their fare in Nelson. The husband was arrested, and lie was

brought hack to Blenheim under escort, the wife accompanying the prisoner. On arrival she was penniless, and she had expressed her intention of sleeping out, and so was arrested in her own interests. A SAD CASE. Sergeant Stark said that the ease was a very sad one, and he had been inclined, when the woman was brought to tlm police station, to give her the price of a night’s lodging out uf his own pocket, but lie realised that something definite would have to he done about her future, and so brought her before tin; Cpurt.

In reply to his Worship, the defendant said that she hoped to get work, ami added that she was good at any sort of sowing. llis Worship expressed sympathy with the defendant, and suggested that the local Salvation Army Captain might lake charge of her and find work for her. but it transpired that the Salvation Army Captain is absent from Blenheim.

This left the Court in something of a quandary, ami his Worship was on the point of remanding the delondant when Mr .1, F. Allcolt, a local resident. who was in the body of tin; Court, stepped forward, amid applause from the spectators, and offered to look after the woman. “I am a Christian man,” he told his Worship, and I can't sit. hack and see a woman look in vain for assistance.” llis Worship thanked Mr Alleott lor his Christian attitude, ami the woman left, the Court in the Good Samaritan s care it being understood that an endeavour will be made to secure employment for her.