FOOLISH FLORRIE.

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

FOOLISH FLORRIE.

An Ancient Lothario.

Another peculiar affiliation case has happened at Christchurch. A young girl named Florence Thompson, a daughter of laboring people, living at Heathcote Valley,' became enciente last year, and she accused a gay old Lothario named Peter Temby of being the happy father. He denied tho business, and as the maid was under age, the police took a hand m the matter, arrested. Temby, and he was committed for trial for carnally knowing. The upshot was that Temby was found guilty •by the jury and was sentenced to .six month's g-aol. He has now been proceeded against for maintenance. She fought the Case, per medium of Mr Donnelly, Mr Hall appearing for complainant. The complainant, Florence Thompson, said she was only 16 years of age this week. On February 23rd last she had an illegitimate child, the father being the defendant, Peter Temby. She used to milk cows for her mother, and Temby had a habit of calling on her when she was so engaged and asking her "to go with him." She agreed, and they went to the other cowshed near at hand. Witness then DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED on these occasions. Sexual intercourse occurred twice m May and onoe afterwards. It was quite true that she had been intimate with someone else— a boy, but that was at Lyttelton where she used to take milk. Intercourse with him happened up tin- gullies. She didn't know the boy's age ; his father kept a fish shop at the Port. When he asked her

to have intimacy with him she didn't object. She was aware that it was a most improper proceeding. She had seen the young fellow since, but he hadn't spoken to her. In answer to Mr, -Donnelly witness denied absolutely 'that she used to knock about with a lot of boys at Lyttelton. Temby she had known for years. His first intercourse with her was m May of last year. Every time she "adjourned" with Temby it was to her mother's cowshed. Witness didn't know the day of the week, or the day of the month that the happenings occurred. It wasn't because the child was born on February 23, '06 that she fixed May of last year as the month, she having been told that. nine months was the usual time to elapse. Between May and September nothing ha^n-ened between herself and defendant. When her mother noticed her condition she never told her the name of the putative father although SHE BADGERED HER: a good deal. However, she eventually told Mrs Wood, a neighbor, and she also informed her of her intimacy with the lad at Lyttelton. Mary Ann Geinmell, mother of the complainant, said that the girl stopped taking milk through from Heathcote Valley to Lyttelton m April, of last year. In May she kept her daughter home for good, and noticed that she was always talking with Tembv away from the house. She had noticed them m conversation m the stock yards. In September when she heard of the girl's misfortune she and her husband ivent m to see Temby and asked him about the business. Her husband told him that Florrie was m the family way by him, and he replied, "No, not me : there was more than me m it. There were other boys there." Then be mentioned the' names of the lads, Perkins and Trengrove. Florrie was then called m and she told her father m front of Temby- that he was the man who had to do with her. Temby said, "I did not." Her reply was, "YOU DID, PETER. I Nothing fnrther happened, and Mr Gemmell went and told the police about the matter. Witness went on to say that the girl never went out at nights except to go to church or to Band of Hope meetings. Mrs Uemmell further mentioned that she had on -one occasion told Temby that he was talking too much to her [daughter. On the day the girl conlessed that she was m the family way Mrs Wood' took her to see Dr. Russeil. Replying to Mr Donnelly, witness said that she didn't remember Temby saying to her husband at the interview stated. "You can do whatever you like." William Gemmell. stepfather of Florrie Thompson. v,'ho said he was a cooper by trade, detailed his intori view with Temby after -he had heard of the trouble. His evidence w corro!)?r,(s7e of his wife>s - When Temby jsatd There were more boys than me .there, witness at once answered, You have committed yourself by saying that- there were than you theie. However, Temby denied havmo- any thine; to-do with the r= •• Mr iJonnelly, j n a . i eng t ny 'address, said that there was nothing m the evidence that could be taken as corroboration of intercourse. Temby had denied it right through. The only possible thing that could be construed as corrpboration ■■ was the statement of Mr and Mrs Gemmell that he had said "There were more than we there,' But m the same breath he made a denial. And a sentence which contained some apparent admission at the start, and a denial at the finish, Couldn't ];e taken as an admission at all. Then, again, when Temby was threatened with the police he replied "You can do. whatever you have a mind to." The corroborative witnesises against defendant- were two inter- | ested persons, and it would be torituring the Act to take their evidence ; under such circumstances and to place : men m peril of being unjustly treated m cases of this sort. Counsel did not call Temby, but left the case as lit was. Mr Day, S.M., did not ask. Mr Hall to reply, saying that he had quite made uj) his mind. The ; evidence of the father and mother was ■mute, sufficient corrolioration.' He ordered Temby (who was said to-be 64 years old, and was alleged to be suffering from hernia) to pay ' 7s a week for the first year, and 5s a week afj terwairds. So this gay old seducer, j Temby, who has only an income of 25s a week, is no doubt now sorry that he sought to take advantage oi an under age, and apparently easily pleased, and easily led girl.