ON JAKOB JENSEN'S JOY JAUNT

NZ Truth, Issue 1144, 3 November 1927, Page 7

ON JAKOB JENSEN'S JOY JAUNT

Bidding

Allegations of Theft and Assault Against Contractor and His Fair Companion

WHEN MARJORIE OLIVER MADE THE FUR FLY

AS a companion on the way down, it was said, he had Marjorie Oliver, a lady much better known m the Cathedral City than she is m the capital. Arriving m Christchurch on the morning of October 6, Marjorie bundled Jakob into a taxi and drove m state to the house of Mrs. Agnes Wilson, who lives m Sherbourne Street, St. Albans, and within an hour the couple were under arrest charged with robbery and assault. Whether the change of air upset him or just what happened to 'him is not known, but from what the police had to say it would seem that the builder is a man of very short memory and very prone also to lose his temper and start a Donnybrook. For Jakob, according to the police, forgetting where he had placed his money for safe-keeping and failing to find it m his pocket, jumped to very hasty conclusions when he reached the Wilson home, and accusing them of having robbed him started to create a fair-sized war. He not only is alleged to have hammered Jervis Wilson, an old man of 75, until he had broken his collar-bone,

A Hectic Morning

but is also said to have man-handled Mrs. Wilson and a woman named Annie Lord and ransacked the house to find his missing money. The Wilsons went further and complained that Jensen and the woman, Oliver, had robbed the old man of £3/19/8 during the row. And then, when the police were called m and Jensen's missing roll was found tucked away m his sock, it was time "for explanations. Jakob, according to the police, said he was sorry and that it was all a mistake, but 'the old man was by then a; hospital case and apologies were a bit out of place. Sergeant McGregor was by no means satisfied with the story of Jensen and Marjorie and arrested them, chai-ging them with robbery and assault, on which o^'irge both of them were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Just what the rights and the wrongs of that hectic morning are will not be cleared u^ until a jury decides next month whether or not Jensen and Oliver did all the terrible things the police and an imposing array of witnesses said they did. Charges of being a rogue and vagabond and with being found unlawfully on premises, which were preferred against Oliver, were adjourned until after the Supreme Court trial, as also were charges of common assault on Agnes Wilson and Annie Ellen Lord and with having been unlawfully on premises, which were preferred against Jensen. After several remands to enable Jervis Wilson to mend his wounds m hospital and recover from the terrible handling he received, Jensen and Marjorie faced Magistrate Mosley last week, when, after a hearing which took up the best part of a day, both pleaded not guilty. It was an amazing story that was unfolded. The evidence tendered revealed some peculiar and mysterious circumstances. The police case i-ests on the statements made by the Wilsons to the effect that before Jakob had time almost to enter the house for the first time he was rushing around like a madman accusing the old man and his wife of having robbed him, forgetting that he had placed the money m his sock. On the other hand, the Wilsons declared that Jakob robbed the old man of his purse, tearing out his trousers pocket with a violent wrench during the struggle. Further, when searched, m Jensen's possession was said to have been found a sum of money made up m amounts similar to those which were described to the police by the old man. But from a statement allegedly made

"Under Treatment"

to Sergeant McGregor by Jensen when first searched, he was said to have admitted that he had grabbed what he could from the- old man, convinced that he was only taking what was rightfully and legally his own property. And from this maze of allegation and counter-allegation a jury will have to arrive at the truth. Whether Jensen and Oliver are guilty or innocent of the charge preferred against them time alone will tell, but one thing is certain— and that is that for the best part of an hour on the morning of October 6, pandemonium reigned supreme m the Wilson household. There is also no questioning the fact that old Jervis Wilson had his collarbone broken and became a hospital case, although part of the story told m court by Mrs. Wilson brought forth from the magistrate the comment that she had told "an absolute lie and has committed perjury." This comment related to her sworn statement that she had not so much as "lifted a hand to Marjorie Oliver" during the disturbance, which conflicted with the story of an independent witness. Whether this was so or not, there was no doubt whatever that Mrs. Wilson was deeply concerned for her aged husband, who still bore marked evidence of bis injuries when he appeared m court. Stout of form and with a full, round face, which was shadowed by a widebrimmed grey felt hat, Mrs. Wilson wore effectively the air of a deeplygrieved woman as she told her story, and, incidentally, forcibly expressed her opinion of the character of Marjorie Oliver. She was moved to tears of compassion for the old man whose wife she is, as she east her gaze upon him and related the narrative of his rough handling. As for Jervis Wilson himself, he looked as old as lie said he was. Tall, but slightly bent with the weight of his years, grey-bearded and with sparse snowy wisps of hair covering his head, he entered the court wearing an overcoat, the right sleeve of which was empty, speaking eloquently of the broken collar-bone which was still "under treatment." When he gave his evidence it was m a tired voice. So much for the principals m this complicated story. The first

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.)

When Anker Jakob Charles Jensen, a well-known Wellington building contractor, recently decided to leave the Empire City on a jaunt to Christchurch, he had m his possession £97 m notes.

act, according to the police, commenced with the departure from Wellington on the night of October 5 of Jensen and Marjorie Oliver. It was the builder's first visit to the southern city and being somewhat at a loss on arrival at the railway station from Lyttelton. Marjorie, who is very well-known m Christchurch and who has previously been through the hands of the police, suggested that a visit be paid to Hhe Wilsons In Sherbourne Street, St. Albans. Quite agreeable to this course, Jensen, from all accounts, hired a taxi and away they went. Shortly after 8 a.m., Mrs. Wilson, who knew Oliver heard a knock on the back door. Opening it, she saw her unexpected visitors and from what Mrs. Wilson had to say they did not wait to be invited inside. Jensen, she said, had a bottle of beer m his hand and without ceremony entered the house, followed by Oliver. This easy familiarity did not conform to Mrs. Wilson's ideas of social etiquette and she ordered them out of the house. "My husband was m bed," she went on to state, "and when I ordered them out Jensen caught hold

of my arm and started pulling me about. "He then took to Mrs. Lord, who waa m the house at the time, and accused us of having robbed him of all his money." The uproar that was m progress brought forth from his bedroom old Jervis Wilson, who soon took stock of the situation and promptly ordered the unwelcome guests out of the house. "When my husband' told them to get out," said Mrs. Wilson, "Jensen took to him and knocked him down. "He then threw him on the bed and then dragged him on to the floor, knocking him about most brutally." Mrs. Wilson glared round the court. "Yes," she went on with a glance at Marjorie m the dock, "and all the time he was doing this she was egging Jensen on, shouting out: 'Go for him; go for him ! ' " According to Mrs. Wilson, Jensen was by this time seeing red, "because he then took to me and Mrs. Lord again," she complained. Taking advantage of the temporary lull so far as he was concerned, the old man slipped out of the house to call the police. "But," said Mrs. Wilson, "Jensen saw my husband go and ran after him. < "He knocked him down ln the gutter nnd then pounced on him, pressing his knees into his chest and kept on 'boxing,' shouting out all the time: 'You'd go for the police, would you?' What happened after that was a Donnybrook. According to his wife, the old man — helpless and half-stunned on the ground — was at the mercy .of Jakob. "[ saw him put his hand down and lear my husband's trouser- pocket clean away. It contained his purse and Jensen took it and put it m his own pocket," she said vehemently.

"And all the time this was going on, Mrs. Oliver was nagging Jensen on and calling out wicked names. Still believing that he had been robbed, Jakob, Mrs. Wilson told the court, wanted to drag the old man into Kearns' grocery store nearby to see about it, but Kearns was not encouraging any scenes about his premises, so the move failed. Back to the house went Mrs. Wilson and Annie Lord — and back there also went Jakob. "Yes," declared Agnes heatedly, "and what did he do? He banged m all the doors, went through all the drawers and ransacked the whole place." Mrs. Wilson was growing quite excited at the recollection of that hectic morning and when Lawyer J. B. Batchelor, wfro appeared for Jakob, and Lawyer Malley, for Marjorie, started to cross-examine her, there were a few sparks which had to be quenched finally 9 by the magistrate. Agnes, m reply to the first question of counsel, said she knew Oliver, who had told her when she arrived at the house that she and Jensen had just come down from Wellington the previous night. "No, she has not previously lived

with me nor is she a friend of mine," Mrs. Wilson fired back m reply to a further question. Lawyer Malley: "Now, Mrs. Oliver states that she used to visit you at your house sometimes m the afternoons; is that correct?" Agnes bristled. "Certainly not, I am never home of an afternoon," she replied. Counsel: "Well, where are you m the afternoons?" Once more Mrs. Wilson glared across at counsel and m a tone of scorn she replied: "That is my business; where are you m the afternoons?" There was an audible titter m court, but it was instantly suppressed when the magistrate turned his attention to the witness-box. "Now, look here, Mrs. Wilson, you must not be cheeky," he warned her. Lawyer Malley: "Well, where are you m the afternoons? Do you refuse to answer?" Mrs. Wilson's face was rapidly assuming the color of a beetroot and she displayed marked annoyance a^f this attempt to probe into her movements. Finally she compromised by saying that she was sometimes m one place and sometimes m another — "busy about her own and her luisband's affairs." Lawyer Malley: "Well, you would not say you were unfriendly to Mrs. Oliver when she first came to your house that morning?" Mrs. Wilson fairly bristled. '"Well, a woman who carried on like she did is not fit for any woman's society," she retorted. Once more Kie magistrate intervened. "And why do you say that?" he demanded. "Well, why should she put on io me. . ." began Agnes m reply, when the magistrate cut short her remarks.

"Tour observations about her are very interesting to yourself, no doubt, but they are not so to me," said the bench caustically. Flushed with anger, Mrs. Wilson, tried to have the last word. "That woman," she stormed, "she is neither use nor ornament to the community!" The magistrate again warned her. "Mrs. Wilson, if you go on like that I will have to deal with you and when I start to deal with people they are apt to regret it," he said. Anger was replaced by tears as Mrs. Wilson dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and sobbed: "I — 'nearly lost — my — husband through — this business." "And I am sure we all sympathize with you m the matter," soothed the bench. Mrs. Wilson put away her handkerchief and turned to face Lawyer Malley once more. Counsel: Would you not have been pleased to see Mrs. Oliver at your house on this particular morning? — No; she was told to keep away. When was she told that? — Before she was imprisoned the last time. She was told to keep away two years ago.

The Police Arrive

Now, during this melee was not Mrs. Oliver knocked about? — No; not one hand was put on her the whole time. So during the whole of these proceedings, which lasted about an hour, j'ou took no part? — No; I was trying to save my husband and was guarding him against the blows. And I got some myself! You say that Jensen did not wait to walk into the house quietly? — He did not wait to walk m; he jumped into the place! So much for Mrs. Wilson's version of the affair. When Jervis Wilson, the victim of the morning's Donnybrook, commenced his evidence, he was provided with a chair and for the next half hour merely corroborated what his wife had said. Corroborative evidence was also given by Annie Lord, who said it was her custom to call at the Wilson house occasionally to help them out with the work. She was m the house when Jensen and Oliver arrived and came m for some violent attentions herself. A storekeeper near the Wilson house entered the box ancl told what he knew of the row. lie said lie had seen Mrs. Wilson strike Oliver during the melee outside. • When Sergeant McGregor, accompanied by a. constable, arrived on the scene m response to a. telephone message, he found Jakob- and Marjorie at the rear of premises owned by a man named Henderson. Ue wanted to know what all the disturbance was about. Jensen, related the sergeant, told him that Mrs. Oliver had taken him to the Wilsons' house that morning and that barely had he got inside the door when the old couple robbed him of all his money — amounting to £96. The sergeant then searched Jensen and found m one of, his pockets a £ 1 note m which were rolled two halfcrowns; two two-shilling pieces; two threepenny bits and an odd copper. "Jensen told me that he had accused the Wilsons of having robbed him, but that both of them had denied it,*' said the sergeant, who went on to say that Jensen had explained that he had grabbed the old man and had managed to get no more than £5 from him. When asked where the balance of the £5 was, Jensen did not know, but was satisfied that he had only got back what was rightly his own property. When confronted with the Wilsons later, both parties complained about being robbed and on further searching the sergeant discovered Jensen's missing money m his sock.

Sergeant's Search

When the old man complained of the assault and his broken collarbone, Jensen and Oliver were arrested and taken into custody, charged with robbery and assault as the principal charge arising out of the morning's happenings. It was three weeks before the case could be gone on with, as Jervis Wilson, being a hospital case, was unable to attend earlier to give evidence. When the story had been told, counsel for Oliver pleaded for the dismissal of the charge against her, but m vain. "I think there is quite sufficient evidence against her to warrant her being sent for trial," said the magistrate. Both accused then pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence and were committed for trial. Bail was fixed for Oliver, but Jensen did not apply for it. So ends Act 2 m the builder's adventure. The jury will write the third act and the climax. Altogether it will be some little time yet before the builder will return to his wife and family m the Empire City.