TOLD HIM TO KEEP AWAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 3

TOLD HIM TO KEEP AWAY

Plain Hint For Boarder

AT VARIANCE ' (From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Kep.) Although the relations of Aoge Anton Pedersen and the family of the licensee of the Heathcot©' Valley Hotel were at one time most friendly, they have since become severely strained, the parties now being at loggerheads. MERE words — some, of them allegedly strong ones — have served to accentuate the trouble rather than appease it, and the dispute finally had to be taken to the • Christchurch Magistrate's Court to be settled. A complaint was laid by the licensee of the hotel; Joseph Hills Round, to have Pederseh bound over to ktep the peace on the grounds of his having used insulting and provocative language to his daughter, Irene Margarite Jennings. , During the hearing of the case it was alleged that Mrs. Jennings also used insulting language to Pedersen, calling him, "a Dutch mongrel." Mr. C. S. Thomas, who appeared for Round, said that Pedersen, a Dutchman, had deserted his ship and afterwards went to board at the Heathcote Valley Hotel. He was there for about three years when he was brought before the court, charged with deserting his ship. ; , From then onwards, said coun-, sel, his conduct at the hotel, which hitherto had been good, changed for the worse," and eventually he was ordered to leave as a result of his objectionable conduct. The man appeared to be a savage, said Mr. Thomas, and was simply irresponsible. One; one occasion, he' had spat m the face of one. of the women employed m the hgtel^ He had said things about the character of every woman m the hotel. " Mrs. Jennings gave evidence along the lines of counsel's address. She admitted to Mri D. W. Russell, counsel for Pedersen. that Pedersen had painted the hotel and had done odd jobs about the place while he was there. She did not know whether he had; been paid for his work. Mr. Russell: He will say that you called him the names you accuse him of calling you? — That is untrue, i You called him "a Dutch mongrel." — That is untrue. , . Your family wants to get Pedersen out of the Heathcote Valley? — He certainly causes a lot of bother. Mr. Russell said that Pedersen had been a boarder at the hotel for about

four years, and at first had been treated Jike one of the family. . He had not been to the hotel on the occasion referred to by Mrs. Jennings, but had' been there earlier. Pedersen, when called to give evidence, denied having used insulting language to Mrs. Jennings. She had called him "a Dutch mongrel," he. said, but -she generally called him that when she had a few whiskies m.. Mr. Thomas: You have never said anything about Mr^ Round, her daughter, or Mrs. Seeler?— No. You have always acted like a perfect gentleman to them? — I wouldn't say that. , You have never said anything about their character? — No. . Mr. Thomas read a letter which Mrs. Jennings' brother had given Pedersen to sign and Avhich he did sign. This set out that all the malicious statements which Pedersen had made about the women at t'he hotel were without foundation and were false, and that he would undertake never to go near the hotel m future. Mr. Lawry said that he was not satisfied that it was a case for binding Pedersen over to keep the sureties of the peace. He did not think that the man was likely to use the language again, or that there would be a breach of the peace. Mr. Thomas asked that an order he made to prevent Pedersen from going near the hotel, as he thought that if he were to go there trouble might arise. Mi\ Lawry asked Mr. Russejl to im/ press on Pedersen that, he should not go near the' hotel.