The Boys Called Her "Canary" Because Her Legs Were Thin

NZ Truth, Issue 1179, 5 July 1928, Page 7

The Boys Called Her "Canary" Because Her Legs Were Thin

ON WITH THE NEW LOVE BEFORE SHE WAS OFF WITH THE OLD

TOO MANY PARTIES AND TOO MANY PALS?

Waitress On Verge of Collapse When Bench Declines To Make Order Against Young Married Man

,„„. „,,,,i tilitiiiiiijilitjuiji n ti i iiimiiniHiiiiiiiiimtiiniiiiniiiiiHinHUiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiuiiimmiiiiiiiiiiiiiuuiiitiiiii uiiniiiitiimiriiicimiiftiiiiiimiuiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimimiiri » !"i^m!m"!m"™!!"l"l!!!'!!"mm!ii!»i»i""i tiimiiimmiiiiiimiiiiiiiiii iinniin mi iiiniiimiiniiinuiiiniiiiiJiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii minimi mimimimiiiiimimimimiimimiiimimimiin^| si (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) || Il MANY FRAGMENTS of humankind which we call men and women regard experience as the stern || f j lights of a ship that illumine only the track it has passed. # || Il There could be no more remai&able example of such a belief than that of Emily Nellie Coomber, || !| who was called upon to support the police m an application for the maintenance of her illegitimate child, || jl now m the care of the State, and allegedly born as the result of intimacy between the girl and Stanley j] If Chajles Cecil Southwood. ' ■„ . ■ . )|

II n i,i Mm i'imiiiimimmiimiimimiimmiiiimmiimimimimimiiimimiiimiiiiniiit «>»» viiiiiimiiiiiiroiiijiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii""""'"""" ll """ l " " '"""" ' m ' wood, had told a series of wilful lies. There could be no doubt that he had been intimate with the girl, but the magistrate had also to accept the girl's own admissions concerning relationships with others, while her letter to Sutherland was proof that she had been on similar terms with him. Moreover, m that same letter, she expressed an intention to live with him as soon as she had left the nursing home. ' " ■ The S.M. added that he could Jiot, under the circumstances, make an order against Southwood. The girl Coomber, who was the principal witness for the police, described herself as a waitress. She told' the court that she had known Southwood some two or more years before they had "kept company" together. She first met him at a house m Adelaide Road, at a party given by a Mrs. Hardy. A month afterwards' they commenced, to "keep company." Marriage Promise ? According to the girl, she and Southwood frequently consummated intimate relationships m the John Street reserve and m Grass Street, above Oriental Bay. They met on an average of four times a week. Two months after they started their excursions, to these places, the girl Coomber said she detected certain symptoms of her becoming a mother, so she made an appointment for Southwood to meet her, when she apprised him of what was likely to happen. "He said he would marry me," declared the girl, "but he didn't have enough money, so I said I would find that if only he would marry me. "Then he said that if he couldn't marry me on his money he wouldn't marry me at all. "Two months later he offered to procure some powders from the chemist, to bring about a certain effect, but I told him it was too late. . "Two months before* my baby was due to be born, Southwood left me. "When I was m the Alexandra Home, I often saw him pass the building, and I waved to him, saying that if he wanted to come and see me he could ring the door-bell, but he didn't answer. "I went out with him on several occasions after ,the baby was born, but I finally ceased doing this, as he subsequently went out with another girl." Sub-inspector Lander: Can you remember any dates? — No, I can't, because, you see, they were so frequent. Yes, she had known a youth named Andrew Barber, but had never "kept company" with him and did not have very much to do with him. She had been to the pictures with Southwood only twice during the period they had known each other, as he was unemployed most of the time and she used to keep him m cigarettes. Southwood it was who gave her the name of "Canary," because, she said, she was so thin m the legs. Oh, yes, she knew "Bonny" Weldon and a man named Rankin — they were great friends of Southwood. Some time after her unfortunate child was born, Southwood married another girl, and since the birth of the child m question she had again become a mother. The second child was now dead. Her cross-examination by Lawyer Archie Sievwright, who appeared on behalf of the defendant, Southwood, was devastating. Counsel: When was the second child born, Miss Coomber?— August 25, 1927. So that was only 19 months after! Who was the father of the second child? — Mr. Broomfield. Did you ever live m a bach at Lyall Bay?— No. ■ She Knew Adolph Nor visit one? — No. Do you know a man named Adolph Rypeki or some name like that? — Yes. Were you living with him m a bach at Lyall Bay for about three months? — No, I just knew his mother, that's all. Then you used to live m or visit a bach there, of which -he had control ? — No, I never did. I see. You said you had a child 19 months after the first child was born, didn't you? — Yes (defiantly). It didn't take you long to get off with the old love and on with the new, did It? — It wasn't my fault. Was. there any time when you hated the sight pf Barber? — No. You never put it m writing? — No. Counsel* commenced' rummaging among his papers, finally extracting a two-sheet letter from which he read a number of extracts. ' ~ Showing the letter to the witness, Lawyer Seivwright commenced: Is that your handwriting? — It' is. Can. you tell me when it was written? From the. context it appears to have been written m. hospital.— Which hospital? '. -' ■ ' That is what I want to know. Well, at any rate, do you know anyone else besides Barber by the name of "Andy" ? —No. Listen to this. Didn't you say: "I will never so long as I live ever speak or go out with Andy, ever since I heard what he said about me." Is that your I handwriting or not? — I suppose it must be. Read that, now: "Dear Charlie, I will keep my word . ■ . .as soon as my baby is born." Does that refer to the baby you are charging Southwood with? — Yes. v I put it to you that this letter was written by you m the Alexandra Home, just before the baby which you say. is Southwood's was born V— Yes.

iiiiwmimiiiimiiiiimimimimmimiiiimmimiii'luiiimimimimiimimm mmm mm imiii i miiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiimiimmimiminiiiiimimiiimiimmiiimiiiiiimiiimimiimi limn I I put it to you that you were annoyed with Barber), that you hated the sight of him,' because Barber is the father of Ane child? — He is not. Barber is your i!riend to-day, isn't he?— Yes. .",. And you have discussed his and your evidence with him?""-! have not. I put it to you that the reason why you said you hated -him was because he was the father of. your child. And when you said something to him he wouldn't have anything to do with it? —No. What was it, then?- I—Southwood1 — Southwood said that if I snoke to Biarber, he would

never speak to me again. And you ask the c6urt to believe that, Miss Coomber? — South - Wood put it un

Incoherent Reply

to me, that is why T. wrote that. "What!" Magistrate" Salmon then intervened and attempted to extract the true Interpretation ,f rom the witness, but she merely uttered an incoherent jumble of statements which nobody understood. At length Counsel Seuvwright said, soothingly: "Let us pas\s on." Do you know Charlie Sutherland? — Yes. ', Listen: "Dear Charlie, I will keep to my word." Does that mean that you would be intimate with hilm? — It didn't

itiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHuiiiiiiiiiimuiiniiiHiiiii liiiniiiiiiiiiimi mean for the whole night . . ;'„ } us t for the evening. V. Purely platonically, eh? lAlow, Miss Coomber, to men and wojtnen with knowledge of the world— with your knowledge of the world— ifchat could only mean one thing ii-'— lt isn't true. ji ' Isn't it true that a girl of your tmoral character could enjoy herself oilty m one-way?— Certainly -not. (, ; Most worldly men and women '-would take it that you 'meant by that -letter you were going to have improper re-

latlons with Charlie Sutherland, . . ? — I- was not (indignantly) . I put it to you that what you mpfint was that

you had finished with "A"rtdy" Barber and wanted to be "on" M/ith Charlie Sutherland? That you -yCere finished with Barber, who wasp'the father of the child ?— lt is a lie. N\ "Charlie, it is a. long time slAde I have been out with you, dear." \E-fow long is that? — I don't know. ij . "We will make ..up for lost tctoie,'' means you would be having impifoiper relations with him, doesn't it?— Vßjot necessarily. There are other wayfe _,; of "making it up" to. him. | "Well, will you tell me?" Silencjs. The magistrate: You said just limy that you ' had never been out vH th Sutherland, .but now you say you h^jve ' i

" - ■■■■■.:! , ■--■■■ n DidnM Remember ■ v.i • "- . % : ■- • ■ - .El

iMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiHiiiiuiiMiiiiiiiiHummmimmimimimiimiiimiiiHiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiiii iiiiiimmiiimmimiiiimiiimmimmimiimiiimuiiiimimtimimimimiiiimimi umimimiimimii been out with Southwood when you were with Sutherland. Is that right?— Yes, your worship. Lawyer Sievwright: What do you mean by that "lost time"? \The period of waiting . „ . the anticipation of relationships with Sutherland?— No. I will leave the court to decide! Now, what is this? "A long time ago you asked me a certain question." What, was the question? — (A long pause). I don't remember. "And: '. . . I didn't answer you.' Southwood wasn't there, was he? What was the question?" The girl looked somewhat embarrassed, finally saying that she would not

speak the words, but would write them on a piece of paper. "Pen or pencil, Miss Coomber?" asked qounsel, soft-

ly. — "A pencil, please. She wrote: "Charlie Sutherland asked me to live with him." Counsel: You didn't say "Yes" or "No" to that question— is that so?— Yes. "But when I am out of here, I will let you do what you asked." — You were prepared to do that, when you were out of hospital? — Yes. So that although you say you were still fond of Southwood, you went with Sutherland and were

iiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiimmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii prepared to make this arrangement when you came out of hospital?— Yes. Then: "Charlie, will you come back to me when I come out, because you are the only one I have always loved." Is that true? — Yes, so it was. And: "I still remember the very last time we were out together aad I enjos'ed .myself." When was that? — That was before I found myself m a certain condition. Then you would have relationships with him? — No, I used to go o^t with

mm betore I went with Soutiiwood, who got me '. away from Sutherlamd. And: ". . ; I intend to enjoy myself with you . ' '." ' .

and you only?"— That meant panties. How can a woman 'of --your character reasonably ask the court to believe that the phrase doesn't mean impropriety? — Well, it does iri my case. After you tell somebody you will do what he wants?— Yes. You did mean immoral relationships, didn't you?— Yes. "I will be expecting a letter from you by Tuesday, so be sure to say 'Yes' or 'No' . . ."I suppose that would mean the same question as before?—l suppose so. The witness then retailed a story of how her mother had gone to see Southwood at 'his place of business and how he had admitted ■ paternity.

■ rill.lir. *IIIIHHH«HlllllllJ«IMIIim.M..IJ.».l.M 1 MIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIII IKIIS mimin tiiiiiimiiimiumimnitimimimimimnnmmimimimnimimimimimimimmmimmimii. Counsel Seivwright pointed out, m rebuttal of this, that although, the girl Coomber declared that Southwood admitted being a co-participant In impropriety, almost immediately afterwards she placed the matter m the •hands of her solicitor. Counsel also. suggested that the reason why legal proceedings were not continued was because her solicitor considered that her case was too frail to be brought before a magistrate. When thfe suggestion was put to her, the witness denied it an.d. blamed her solicitor for any delay which had been occasioned. "Aha, so for two and a-half -years you have done nothing?" queried Lawyer Seivwright. — "Yes" (doubtfully). And after two and a-half years, you come to court and ask that your old, threadbare story be believed! — I didn't bring the case to court. As a matter of fact, it never would have been brought here, but for the police? — I suppose so. Barber's Evidence Lawyer Seivwright resumed his seat and the girl left the witness-stand, weeping copiously. Andrew Ewart Barber, a young man with deep-set eyes, surmounted by thick eyebrows and underlined by dark- streaked puffs of flesh, his tailoring effect heightened by a conglomerate selection of fancy socks, a wing collar, a batswihg tie of another color — the whole almost overwhelmed by an inarticulate pull-over that would have brought tears to the eyes of a Bond j Street tailor — such was the optical effect produced by the next witness called by Sub-Inspector Lander. He said that not only had Southwood denied any responsibility to the youth of the Newtown area, who appeared to know all about the relationships of the two young people, but he also declared his innocence to a tentful of embryo soldiers belonging to the 15th battery, when they* were m camp at Fort Dorset. Somehow or other the subject had been raised during a conversation, when Southwood positively denied any responsibility, but later admitted having gone out with the girl Coomber, intimacy taking place. The camp was- held so far back as 1926, but the witness could clearly remember the conversations and the chief points brought forward on each occasion. All the time Barber was giving his evidence, Counsel Seivwright was busily writing hieroglyphics on a sheet of foolscap m front of him. When the witness had concluded his short evidence, defending counsel rose to his feet and launched "an attack. Do you know that Nellie Coomber said she hated the sight of you, about a couple of. months before the camp at Seatoun? — Not to my knowledge. What had you said about her at that time?— Nothing. Yob know Charlie Sutherland? — I do. Do you know whether Miss Coomber was intimate with him? — No, I don't know (airily). And that it was he Miss Coomber loved ?— No. But you were one of the gang, one of the lads, one of the boys m Newtown with this girl, weren't you? — No, But you knew Miss Coomber and she called you "Andy"? — Oh, yes. "All these boys were committing acts of intimacy, weren't they?" The sub-inspector rose Indignantly to his feet, with the exclamation: "Is that quite fair, sir?" Whereupon Magistrate Salmon suggested that counsel might ask whether the witness knew that other hoys had any improper relations with the girl. Barber said: "No, Ido not." When Lawyer Seivwright suggested that the general reputation of the girl was decidedly loose, the witness emphatically declared that she was as good as any other girl around Newtown. Strenuous Denial Come, come! Here is a girl who has had two illegitimate children— yet you say the girl's reputation is as good as any other m Newtown! I put it to you, Barber, that she is loose— and you know, it!— No,. l deny that. Were you ever intimate with her or go out with her? — No. But Miss Coomber says .'she has "given you up." When were you "on" with her?— Never. Can you tell me how. you come to remember a casual conversation m camp? I suppose everyone was giving his life experiences, eh? — I remember we were all talking on our beds that night and somehow the subject arose. -Everybody blowing his own trumpet about his experiences of life, I suppose?— Not everybody. "All right, that will do." •Southwood, a pale young man of medium height, with protruding ears, his hair ruffled as though he had been seeking Melisande m the wood and the undergrowth had exacted a stubborn vengeance on his shock of hair, then took his stand m the witness-box. He ridiculed the suggestion that it was he who had dubbed Miss Coomber with the nickname "Canary," declaring instead that she was known to the boys of Newtown by that appellation long before he came to Wellington m 1925. Nor could heagree that he was out with her at least four nights a week. The statement that he took her to the pictures was quite 'untrue, as he was not m the habit of taking girls to such places, of entertainment. As to saying that he was intimate with her on many occasions m eitherGrass Street,'' Oriental Bay, or the John Street reserve, that also was fictitious, f He had always strenuously;- -denied