THE GUNN CASE.

NZ Truth, Issue 69, 13 October 1906, Page 4

THE GUNN CASE.

Adjudged Liable, but Appeals.

There v;as a similar case to the above narrated fully m last week's "Truth." m which Magistrate Bishop reserved his 'decision,- It -was that of Violet Ditford Against Daniel Gam 1 , for thr- maintenance. of his illegitimate chilil. G win had. allegedly seduced the ir 3 when she was under age, and the outcome was a .bouncing baby, He had. to stand his trial, at the Supreme Court, • an d the first trial proved' abortive because there was a. stone-deaf juryman m the box. The second trial resulted m his acquittal, but the ftirl then vrent for him for support of the; infant. This was contested by Lfwvyer Donnelly; who appeared for Gunn, counsel . Hunt representing the «'very ■ youthful complainant, teis-hop, &.M., has since held Gium liable for the main'tensnee of that little mortal. He" said il. had been argued that Gunn's acquittal at the -.Supreme- Court must operate as a bar to the present proceedings. -He was thoroughly satisfied that there was .nothing v^hatever m Jthis contention, and that the result oithe.previous trial ' h&fi no tearing whatever on -the issue under notice; The merits of the case presented no difficulty- at. all. 'There was no' reason to. doubt the truth of the complainant's evidence, and it was am p"ly' corroborated by that of tier father arid mother, and by Constable, Gibson. The evidence of the. defendant himself was hi<rh!v improbable, s6, much so as to afford considerable cbrroboratibn of itself. The evidence of the other wit-* nesses for the defence., m no way met the case at all, so he adjudged Gunn the putative father of the kiddie, and ordered ' him ' to pa!y Ts- 6d a \yeek, confinement expenses £6, the costs of the present proceedings, and solicitor's fee £I, los. ..: .Also . . he was ordered to find surety m £100 that he would keep up his unpleasant, payments. * Since then Lawyer Donnelly has planked up £25-. deposit to appeal acainst the S.M.s decision, so Gunn and his 'much published 'case will 'be determined later on ■ for .t!: • fourth time (including the original n^«-m«?in the Magistrate's Court, when lie was charged with the crime of carnally knowing the girl).