“PEEPING TOMS”

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1929, Page 6

“PEEPING TOMS”

WOMEN WORRIED

LJiy Telegraph, Per Press Association.j

INVERCARGILL, May ill

A middle-aged married man, who was represented by Mr T. Alercdith, pleaded “not guilty” jn the Police Court to-day to a. charge of having been found on enclosed premises by night without lawful excuse. Jn asking for a remand, counsel stated that the defendant had assured him that he had a good reason for being on the piemises and counsel had advised him to call his witnesses in ihe matter. Counsel asked for bail, and for an order suppressing the name in the meantime.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that the alleged offence was regarded by l-lie police as a typical “.Peeping Tom” ease as far as the defendant was concerned. Constable Nesbit had received a complaint from a lady in Ettrick Street,' stating that on freshly dug ground outside her sitting room window, she had noticed tracks. Complaints of a somewhat similar nature bad been received from four sources, and over a widely scattered area. It had been .arranged that on Thursday evening a watch should he kept on the house. The daughter 'of the complainant agreed to sit in a sitting room and the blind was purposely left slightly askew. "Nesbit waited from 7 p.m. until-10 p.in. The constable would say:thaE ho saw the man sneaking up to the window. He looked into the room first on one side and then* on the other. Scores of women could not sleep on account of the fear of “Peeping Toms.” The Senior-Sergeant mentioned that the St. Helens Hospital was a favourite haunt of such people, and complaints had been received from the Matron. It did not follow j however; that the accused had offended before. Those circumstances should be taken into consideration when bail was being considered. ' < The Magistrate granted an order suppressing the name in the meantime and allowed .bail for £25 on cused’s own recognisance and one surety.