HORTON SAYS HE WENT TO SEE DEAD CANARY

NZ Truth, Issue 1291, 4 September 1930, Page 7

HORTON SAYS HE WENT TO SEE DEAD CANARY

"WHILE MOTHER WAS AWAY AT WORK " *'.'■'■'■ ' » ■ . ."v.. y '■■:■:■•.■.■ Mrs. Spackman Accuses Elderly Married Curator of Parks Of Basely Betraying Her Young Daughter GIRL'S ALLEGATIONS H^IPHATICALLY DENIED

HORTON, totally denying the allegations, f said 'that he was never more than r a friend vof the girl's parents and that he was astounded at the accusation levelled against him. Attempting -to, disprove the girl's statement that' Horton "was the only man she had ever been intimate with, the defence dragged a- number of young Masterton bloods into the picture and asked her to explain her associations with' them. The girl, who, frequently dissolved * into tears during the course of her evidence, admitted that she had a t nuniber of "boy friends," but said that she only; talked to them. She admitted, however, that *she spent some time m the scrub m her bathing costume with one of these youths and that this same j young man told her "yarns." AllYthe parties m the case were well known m /the town, and a crowded gallery followed the proceedings except during the girl's evidence when a broad hint was given spectators to depart. The hearing occupied two days and at the conclusion, the magistrate re- : served his decision. Mr. R. R. Burrage defended Horton, and Mr. H. R. Biss appeared for the complainant and her daughter. The first witness called by Mr. Biss, counsel for the plaintiff, was the defendant, himself, Pale and obviously very nervous, 'Joseph Horton said that he had known the Spackman family for six or seven years and during that pejriod had 'visited their liouse on several occasions. jr "Do . you know the daughter, Gwen?" asked Mr. Biss. "I don't know the daughter extra well, but J know the father and mother very well," was the reply. * Questioned as to his acquaintance with .the girl, Horton said that he first saw her m the Park on the day she was still attending school and spoke to her on two or three occasions.- ..,' , \. .Mr, Biss: Did you ever give me.nv» bers of .'. the Spackman , family , presents ?— No, imless you call a /few plants and a duck: or two presents. , Pressed to explain these presents further, Horton said that as custodian of the Park he of ten had spare plants and ducks to give away. On one occasion, Mrs. Spackman was passing through the. Park and asked . him whether he had any plants to spare. He told her that she was welcome to any that were not heeded. He 'had asked the Spackmans to at the Park for presents, but only pnce had he asked .that .the, girl be seht for these gifts. ' " "' " A ■■■■'•••■ x Mr: Biss: Could you not have taken them to the house yourself : just as easily? — Yes, but it was not necessary. What was your reason for asking that; the girl -should come.?— Oh, just ih the course of conversation. Following this offer, Mrs. Spackman and sometimes her "daughter came- to collect the gifts at the Park/ vsaid Horton. He might have been \ alone with the girl on odd occasions; k - but his men' were always working near. • , Mr. Biss: "Has anything 'ev6r happened „ between you and Miss JSpackman when you have been alone m the Park?— Nothing at all. .'•■' • *•''■' Has Mrs> Spackman • ever come down to the Park and made accusations ~€o you m connection'-with'her-daughter?—Never.; VV-v .'•'■ ■ < HaVe you ever interfered with her daughter ? — Never. t Have you ever given Mrs. . Spackman money? — Never. < I want you to appreciate the position, Mi*. Horton> -It will be stated that these are facts ?t— l am on oath. When did* you first know ; that you* were accused of being the father of Miss Spackman's child ?• ' —In the middle of March. Who .told ypu?— Mr. Spackman. , . ' '■•■: ' ■;.' ■■■ X "vi"' *. v •• v , ,- Were you astounded ?— Quite. What did you say when you were told ?— I cursed and swore. I asked him what 'the deyil he meant by accusing me. • '. -.\ Mr. Biss asked Horton a • number of questions concerning his visits to the Spackman house, but Horton denied that after he was told of the accusation against him he came round to see Mrs. ' Spackman and used a roundabout route down an alleyway go. that he would" hot. be seen. x Mr. Biss: Have you ever visited the Spackmans' house m the morning when Mrs. Spackman was away"? — Yes, on one or two occasions. • Who was there when Mrs. Spack.man was away? — A blind man was *there on one or two occasions and some girls were there on others.How often were you there with the girl alone ?— On one or two occasions, no more. .How long have you stayed when the daughter was" alone there ? — Not more than a couple of minutes. ~ Explaining this statement further, Horton said that his reason for visiting the Spackman home on one occasion when he had been alone with the girl was that a canary which he had given her father had died and he wished to assure himself of the fact that it was really dead.. He emphatically denied that he gave the girl a manicure set or boxes of chocolates as presents, but admitted that he knew that the girl's father was always away working m the day time j. and that the mother; went out charing. Mr. Biss: Have you ever discussed with Miss Spackman who is the father 'of her child? — Never. When you went to the house to '* see whether the canary was dead, did you expect to find Mr. Spack- ' man there ?— I don't know. ... Did you expect to find Miss Spackman there ?— -I don't know. Have you ever been inside the. bouse when Miss Spackman was . alone there ?— -Never. When was the last occasion when you visited the Spackmans' house ?-^- Prior to last December. - •

Was it because someone sent an anonymous letter to your wife about ' your visits ?— Yes.' ...-....' Mr. Biss read the letter which said: — \ To Mrs. Horton, — You are so very keen on running down, my . girls, what of your own husband / going to Spackman's so often and many a time 'there is only a girl) of sixteen home and he is being timed more than once. One woman told, me if she was .■ acquainted wifch . you. she would let you know, especially on a Monday morning and a Tuesday. Now put that m your pipe and smoke it for a Christmas box. From one who knows the truth. } Now you watch Dixon Street. "I took it for spite," said Horton when asked what he considered had inspired this letter. He admitted that he kept away from the Spackmans' house after he read the letter, but said that he did not mention it to l them until he was accused of being i the- father of the girl's child. Horton stoutly denied that he had any other reason for not < telling the. Spackmans about the letter and said that he knew of no event or happening which warranted the inference it contained.

"Never!" ejaculated Horton when asked whether he had ever kissed the girl or had her

(From "N.Z. Truth's'^ Special Representative.)

Confronted by the grave allegation of a young girl thirty years his junior that he was the father of her illegitimate child Joseph. Horton, a curator of Masterton's Park and a very well-known figure m the Wairarapa capital, gave the accusation a flat denial when he was summoned before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., who was asked to determine paternal responsibility. Maud Spackman, the girl's mother, who lodged the complaint, declared that Horton asked her to send her daughter, Maggie Gwendoline, to the Park to pick up gifts of plants, eggs and ducks and that when the girl went on these errands Horton interfered with her. , Dramatic scenes were witnessed while the girl was giving her evidence. She was subjected to a very close cross-examination, and several times broke down, hanging her head and sobbing unrestrainedly. Defending the case Horton introduced the names of a number of young Masterton men and mention was made of mixed bathing parties which were, allegedly, not quite all they should have been. A blind piano tuner named Daniel Dunne, who for a period boarded with the Spackmans, was frequently mentioned m the case, but the girl, while admitting that she used to kiss him good-night, denied that anything improper had ever taken place between them.

m the tennis pavilion or the fernery at the Park. In reply to Mr. Burrage, Horton said that he was invited to their home by Mr. and Mrs. Spackman and that they never on any' occasion warned him to keep away or gave any indication that his /presence was unwelcome. His- wife was no£ on social terms with the, Spackmans and never visited them. Mr. Burrage: So Jar as; your .relations with _ your wife are concerned, . I suppose you get on very well together ?— Most happily. . In consequence of that letter or of anything since, has yoiirL wif e ceased to live with you'?-^-We are on thebest of terms. ' : ' ; Although Mr. -Biss :challenged\ the question, Horton said that after his wife received the anonymous letter, he took the. matter to the police; who told' him that several' similar 'epistles had been received by other people m Masterton. Reiterating his denial that he; had ever been m the fernery at the Park with the girl, Horton said that- his men wei-p always working with him during the springtime when- the misconduct was alleged and that it would' have been impossible for him to have gone off with the girl withoutthe: men seeing him. Mr. Burrage: Do you know any-

thing about a blind man who was boarding at the Spackmans ?—^ saw him there several times. He was a young single man and he went away towards the end of last year ? — Yes. On one occasion, said Horton, Mrs. Spackman asked him for half a crown on the plea that her family were nearly starving. He told her that-he had no money with him as. his wife ; kept the cash, but he gave her the ducks from the Park out of sympathy to the family's plight. Mr. Burrage: On- one occasion did.you see the girl with a boy m . the Park?— Yes. What did you say?— l told her to run along home. Did you ever tell the mother that you thought the girl was starting a bit early ?— I think I did tell the - mother -that she ought to take .more care of her daughter. . v Horton added that he' had seen the girl hanging around the 'men's' bathing sheds, but m reply to a question he said that he had not been present on an occasion when the girl was al- ,

legedly,"brdered out of the Park by the police. -He himself seldom went out at night and when he did his wife -usually accompanied ' him.

The .first he heard of the accusations against him, said Horton, was when he encountered Spackman who called him over and told him that he had better call round and see Mrs. Spackman that evening. . The Magistrate: What words did he use? — He said '.'that the girl was blaming me for being the father of her child.

After- hearing this accusation, Horton said that he went home and told his wife and then consulted a solicitor who advised him not to see the Spackmans. However, he decided to keep the appointment and with his wife called at Spackman's house that evening. They went to the back door and knocked, but no one answered and they went away again. Mr. Burrage: So that .if the Spackmans had remained at home as Spackman arranged they had. the opportunity of having it out with you then ? — Yes.

Have you ever invited the girl to the Park or any other place where misconduct ' could have taken place ?-^Nb. • Have you ever found the girl ■■''•' /

reasonable to put _ the girl down there m March to await a confinement due m July? — I did it for the girl's good. ( What is the girl's good? You have had children here yourself? — But I was married. It was not very nice to have her at home. But have you not been acting as a real loud speaker m this matter?^ Have you not told everyone about it m order to blacken this man's character? — 'No, I have not. Mr. Burrage: Did you find the girl deceitful at home? — No, she always acted straight. Did you find cigarette butts and money m her pockets when she returned from a man named Ridge-

Mr. Burrage: You did not object to Mr. Horton "popping m" to your place, as you put it?— l looked upon him as a gentleman. Mrs. Spackman could not agree with Mr. Burrage's contention that the Park was so open tliat it offered no cover for love-making couples. "There are plenty of places," she stated definitely, "a man would not take, a. girl out m the open." Mr. 'Burrage: Will you swear that you never left your daughter alone m the house with' the blind man, Dunne? — Yes. Did your daughter ever kiss Dunne? — No! At least I never saw her. Evidence will be called to show

This Manion was a married man, was he not?- I—Yes.1 — Yes. Mr. Burrage then asked for further information regarding Horton's visits to the house and Mrs. Spackman cited four occasions when she alleged Horton called during the mornings and appeared surprised to find her home. , On one occasion she said she was ill and Horton walked into her room. Mr: Burrage: Did you ask him to have a spot on that occasion? Mrs. Spackman bridled indignantly. "I have never asked this man to have a drink with me," . she shot back sharply. Questioned about the youth Beatty, already mentioned, Mrs, Spackman said that she did' not know that Beatty used ' to "hang around" her place. j Mr. Burrage: Did someone tell you that Beatty stood outside your house one night and whistled and that your daughter came out to him? — They did not. And the two of them went along into a vacant section and were seen to remain there for some time? — I don't allow my daughter to go out at nights. Giving her age as 17 on July 26, Maggie Gwendoline Spackman gave her answers to Mr. Biss very calmly but dissolved into tears when Mr. Burrage commenced .his cross-exam-ination. .She said that she first became acquainted with Horton owing to his visits to her home. Previous to this, Horton met her m the Park when .she was talking to a boy friend, and asked her how she Would like him to tell her mother about it. >. Then he' commenced to come to the house and made a request that she should be sent tp the Park to pick up various presents which he was going to give to her parents. Mr. Biss: Did anything happen between you\ and Horton m. addition to i handing over the eggs and plants and so on ? — Y.es. When was that ? — When I was still at school. Asked to explain exactly what took place the girl said that Horton interfered with her on one occasion when she was sent to collect some gifts. She could not remember the exact

ly. In order to give her time to recover the magistrate orderedthe luncheon adjournment to be taken, i When the court resumed, the girl told Mr. Burrage that she did not think that on, the occasion when the alleged misconduct took place between herself and Horton m the Park, anyone else saw them. •Mr. Burrage: When he attempted to interfere with you, did you threaten to tell your mother, or run away?— No. Did you know what h,e was going to do to you? — Not, the first time. Did you ever go sweethearting with anyone? — No. But you have a, lot of boy friends ? — I have only talked to them. Who do you only talk to then? — The ones that you have just mentioned. Any others? What about the High School boys ?— i have never been out with any High School boys. * Do you remember on one occasion being down at the river with Beatty, and you and Beatty going off into the scrub together ,m your bathing costumes? — Yes, but he never misconducted himself with me. I will ask you about that m a minute. Did you hot remain m the scrub with him for some time ?— Yes. , * Now let us get this right. You were all out on the same side and yoii were all dry. While you were m. this dry but semi-nude condition, as a result of a conversation with Beatty, you two waded across the water further down and went into the scrub together ?— Yes. How long were you there ? — I don't know how long. Long enough for the others to get dressed and -"to have gone, when you came back? — I don't know.: After some questioning the girl admitted that she thought the others had departed when she and Beatty returned, and that, one of the other girls, 'who was m the party, called her a "dirty dog" or words to that effect for going off into the* scrub the way that she had | done.

Mr., Burrage: I put it to you that while 'yoii; were _1 away m the scrub with Beatty— Gwen': They could see us just the same though. Mr. Burrage: I will call evidence to show differently. I put it to you that you two went into the scrub for an immoral purpose? — No. Has Beatty ever s interfered! with you? — No. On another occasion, did you and Lusty i and the girl Grantham and Beatty go into the 'scrub? — I don't remeniber. Well, tell us about the other times you went into the scrub with Beatty? — I was only there with him once. Beatty has told you some spicy stories, hasn't he?— What do you mean ? Well, stories that you would not like to tell here ? — He has always been very nice with me. He has never said anything horrible. Mr. Burrage then questioned % the girl rigorously with regard to the incident of the tin which fell from I Beatty' s clothes during one of the I bathing parties. The girl denied that j Beatty waved the contents of this tin about for her to see and that she asked . whether it contained both "plain and fancy." , » ■'. Mr. Burrage: Has anything .'"- improper ever happened at the' « river?— Nothing happened there. Then where did it happen? — Nowhere. Horton is the only one. Did any other boys speak to you m the Park? — Yes. Did any of them suggest that you should misconduct yourself with them ? — Yes, but I said no. Who were the boys who asked you ? Mr. Biss: That is a question that should not be asked. The boys should be called. ' It is not suggested that the girl gave m. Questioned as to her associations with other boys and men the girl denied that her mother ever reprimanded her because of familiarity between herself ' and Dunne, or that she used to be m the blind man's workshop alone with him before 8 o'clock m the morning, r , During the whole of this phase of her examination the girl broke down repeatedly, burying her head m her hands, while at times the mother was also weeping m her place beside her solicitor. Gwen further denied that .she was seen m a vacant , section near to her home ____________ with the boy Beatty or that she remained then with him for some time. Her reason for not telling he: mother of her alleged intimacy witl Horton was simply because she di< not tell her mother "things lik< that." . Mr. Burrage: I put it to you Mis: Spackman that you would much mon readily consent to be intimate witl nice young men like Beatty ani Dunne rather than with a compara tively old man -like Horton?— N< answer. ' Have you. ever been ordered out 6f the tool shed m the Park for telling stories that you ought to be ashamed/ pf?— l was not telling naughty stories. If I call men who say that yoi went into the shed and were telling these married men yarns and tha you were told that you ought to b( smacked and told to get out of it?— I was not telling- them stories. ..Hor

home. 'When Jthemother looked m :the pockets., she v found cigarette butts and a shilling. . Gwen. denied all knowledge of eithejf; the butts or the shilling. '''XX' . ;;She saw; Horton X m the house on different but neyer ;ob-/ served any signs of familiarity between him and the girl. . ~yy -\Vith Mrs. Spackman she was m the jiabit of going for walks at night leaving Gwen alonein the house or with Dunne when he was boarding there. ' Mrs. .Spackman once asked her whether she thought it was safe to leave the girl alone m the House with;Dunne. Her 6v?n daughter, aged . 13, / fused sometimes;* jto go toj keep Gwen 'Spackman Company and Sometime^ Gwen would: go round to keep^ her daughter company. ;• '

Mr. Bise: You ceased to be friendly with the Spackmans about Christmas?- I—Yes.1 — Yes. And you became, very bitter towards them then? — No. -■ v Asked for the reason for the break m their friendly relations, Mrs. Gourlay said that withoufelany reason, Mrs. Spackman cut; herein Uie street. She denied ! that she,; went straight to Horton with ari offer, to jgive evidence against Mrs. Spackman. Mr. feiss: You seem to know as much about the inside of the Spackman home as you know about" your own — I suggest to you more?— No. Mrs. Gourlay, ,have you not. had trouble m your own home ?— Yes. . You were warned by the police?— ' " Yes."' i There was a very serious allegation made against you,- was . there not? — Yes, but there was no truth m it. Why was the hospital and -charitable aid taken away from you? — Because a report went m that 1., was keeping a bad house, but it was not true. You never applied to get the charitable - aid back again?— l have got it b£ck again. I haye hactvit for some time. - v :v - Mr. Biss then showed MrsyGourlay the anonypaous letter received by Mrs. Horton and asked her whether she wrote it. This was indignantly denied. After some argument about handwriting, Mrs. Gourlay finally wrote three words from the letter which were handed m for the magistrate to make a comparison, y- . This closed the evidence and after counsel had briefly addressed the bench, his Worship aimounced that he would take time to consider hia decision, y

"l Asked Him What The Devil

'*? ■ • I and Dunne, the blind man, alone m the house? — Yes. * •Has the girl ever taken refuge m your backyard? — Yes. , Why?-^-She was chased by some boys across the road.. Mr. Biss:, Only a childish prank. The Magistrate : How long ago was this'?— Two years ago. Mr. Biss: And she is 17 years old now! Tight-lipped and with a very determined . demeanor, Mrs. Maud Spackman, the girl's mother, took the oath, i She said that she had known Horton for some years and that during the period of the acquaintanceship he visited her house on a number of occasions. His visits were usually paid between 8 and 11 o'clock m the morning. Horton often made them presents of ducks, eggs, and plants produced at the Park and asked that the girl Gwen should be sent . to collect the gifts. . Mrs. Spackman said she first became suspicious that all was not well with her daughter m October of last year and m November she took- ihe girl to a doctor. Later the doctor informed her that her daughter was about to become a mother. She immediately asked the girl who was responsible for her condition and on being. told that it was Horton she went down to the Park -to interview him. "Horton hummed and haahed a little and. then he out with it," declared Mrs. Spackman grimly. She added that he excused himself by saying that he had a very excitable nature. He said that he saw the girl down m the Park talking to a boy and said to himself that if that was the sort of girl she was he was going to try .her. Mr. Biss: Were the places where misconduct is alleged to have taken place discussed?— '„. Yes, he mentioned two places. Where? — In . the fernery and under a tree m the Park. Mrs. Spackman went on to. speak of Horton handing her £1 so that she* could buy some gin for her daughter. Originally he offered her about 7/6 and when she told .him this was riot enough he told. her he would send j£l round m the morning. Mr. Biss: The next morning did he come to your house ? — Yes, between half past seven and quarter to eight. He, came up an alleyway from Queen Street and into our backyard. What did he do ?— He handed over £1 to me and said thai he must hurry back. Mr. Biss , produced a handsome manicure set m a cdse and asked Mrs. Spackman whether she had ever seen it before. • , ■ "Yes, it was brought to my house by Mr. Horton on the day before Gwen's sixteenth birthday. He said it was for Gwen's birthday," replied the mother, who t went on to say that the girl had also' brought home boxes I of chocolates and bars of chocolate which she claimed had been given [ her by Horton. ..' i Mrs. Spackman stated that the girl was sent to Wellington for the confinement and that the expenses amounted to £24. In addition there was £10 for clothing for the child, £5/11/6 for a pram, and .£1 for bus fare to Wellington. -'."■"' Questioned as to the amount of these expenses, Mrs. Spackman admitted that it was not necessary for her to have sent the girl to Wellington and that the expense would have been lightened if the confinement had been m Masterton. Mr. Burrage: Do you think it;

way's place ? — No. She had been to Ridge way's, hadn't she ?— Yes. To Ridgeway's whare? — No, to his house. Do you know a man called Lusty? —Yes. Were not Ridgeway and Lusty frequent visitors to your house ? — No, they were not. Did you not say. that this Ridgeway was a hateful beast and that you did not know why he came round the place? — No. But Lusty was there frequently? — Yes. s You had your doubts about the bona fides of , the visits paid by Ridgeway and Lusty, did you not ?— No. Did you - not ask the girl whether she had been misconducting herself previously to seeing Horton? — No, that was m November when I took her to the doctor. "I said to her, 'Have you been out with the boys?' and she said, 'No, Mum, I have not." When it was finally definite, did you not suggest to,, her that it was Joe Horton who was responsible ? — No, Mr. Burrage, I did not. She told me of her own free will. I asked her and she -told me the truth. Do you know a Miss Davy ?— Yes. Did she come to ybu and complain about the conduct of your daughter with a boy called Beatty? — She did not complain. The Magistrate: What did she say then? — She said that she - saw Gwen with young Beatty and that he was not a nice man. Mr. Burrage: Well, will you be good enough to tell us what happened on one occasion between Beatty and the girl ? — Well, there was a whole mob of them down at the river swimming. Gwen was on one side and Beatty was on 'the other side. His clothes were on the same side as Gwen. He swam across and when he picked his clothes up a tin fell out of the pocket. Questioned at length, Mrs. Spackman admitted that she knew what this tin contained, but denied that her daughter and Beatty had taken out the contents and . laughed and joked about them. She. finally forbade the girl to go to the river and told her that if she wanted to swim she must go to the baths. Mr. Burrage: You have seen a good deal of familiarity between the boys and girls down at the river? You have seen girls thrown bodily into the river by boys and seen the boys squeezing them m the water ? — I have seen some very well-educated girls down there thrown into the water. i In reply . to questions about the gifts of plants, which Horton made them, Mrs. .Spackman asserted that Gwen was the only member of her family who called,, at the Park to pick [up the . presents. ; Horton asked - her j to • send Gwen, , so she sent her. ,

that when your daughter was going to bed you told hei* to go and . kiss Dunne good-night ? — That is a lie! Did you ever have suspicions about Dunne's conduct with your daughter ? —No. Did you evef ask Mrs. . Gourlay whether she thought Dunne would interfere with the girl ? — No. Two accidents m which she received head injuries had made her daughter mentally dull, . added Mrs. Spackman. Mr. Burrage: This Mrs. Gourlay was a frequent visitor to, your house up till Christmas, wasn't she? — She was m the place morning, noon, and night. She was a perfect pest. Was your girl friendly with a High School boy named Rex Ball ? — I don't know. Has she been m the company of either of these lads between the ages of 17 and 20, a boy called May? — Yes. Has she been m the company of a young mail called Garratt at night? —Yes. , •. So far as May ' and Garratt are concerned, was not a sister of your's i m the hospital between Sep tember 21 and October 18, 1929? Mrs. Spackman questioned the dates and said that the woman' mentioned was not her sister, but she finally admitted that the girl, Gwen, was m the habit of Visiting this woman at the hospital m the evenings. Mr. Burrage made special reference to o"ne evening m September of last year when, after considerable questioning, Mrs. Spackman admitted that Gwen caused her some anxiety by arriving home late after one of these visits to the hospital. Mrs. Spackman contended, however, that when the ' girl returned home, she frankly admitted that she was talking to May and Garratt on the bridge. Mr. Burrage: Under that particular bridge and round it, is there not plenty of closer growth than there is m the Park? — I don't know. ' You prefer not to tell us ? — I am not always hanging about bridges looking at what sort of growth is there. You remember meeting. Garratt and May a few days after this incident?—l met May. Did you question him about being out with your daughter? — I- don't remember. ' I put it to you that you talked to him like a Dutch uncle? — I don't remember. A man named Manion used to visit your house? — Yes.. Do you remember one occasion when he put his arm round your daughter at the gate?— l have never seen it done. t.

Dunne Kissed Her

He Meant by Accusing Me ?"

date of this interference or the exact spot where it took place. Mr. Biss: Did the same thing happen again m the Park? — Yes, a good few times. Did he also interfere with you at your home? — Yes, while mother was away at work and I was home alone. How long did this intimacy between you and Horton continue?— Until I fell ill. Is Horton the only man you have been intimate with? — Yes. Asked about the manicure case, the girl said that it was a birthday present to her from Horton, and that he also gave her boxes of chocolates. She denied that she had at any time misconducted herself with the blind man, Dunne, or the other men Lusty, Beatty, May, Garratt, and Manion already mentioned by Mr. Burrage. Mr. Biss: Were you allowed out at nights ? — The only nights I went out were when I was at the pictures and j I canie , straight home afterwards. Is there any suggestion that any of these other boys and men asked, you to misconduct yourself with them as you did with Horton ? — Yes, they asked me, but I would not let them. Mr. Burrage: You know that Horton is married and has, a son older than you are? — Yes. And you know that he was living at home with his wife when all this misconduct you talk- 1 about was going on ? — Yes. Has he ever talked about marrying you ? — No. Befprey this, case came on you would) have been glad for someone to marry you and take you away? — I would not have been glad. ' The girl denied - \ that she would have been glad to leave home, but admitted that her parents often went out and left 'her by herself. At these times the blind man, Dunne, was also m the house and she used to laugh and joke with him. Dunne used to come to your place when you were home alone? — Yes, but he never stayed more than half an hour. You used to say good-night to Dunne before you went to bed? — Yes, when he was staying at our? place. Used he to kiss you ? — Yes, m front of -Mum. At. this stage, Miss Spackman had to be given a chair and when Mr.' Burrage persisted m his line of questioning, she burst into tears. • "That happened night after ' night, didn't it?" asked Mr. Burrage. when she was able to continue. The girl denied this, but admitted that Dunne used to kiss her at other times. Mr. Burrage: It is very apparent that m the three weeks that Dunne was at your place you grew to like him sufficiently to let him kiss you? — He kissed me. Did he put his arms round you.? — He put his arms around me and kiss-^ ed me. Ybu never ran inside when you saw Dunne like you say you did when you saw Horton ? — No, he seemed nice and not so silly as Horton. Have you ever heard Dunne tell suggestive stories? — I have heard him tell different yarns. You have never heard Horton tell yarns?— l don't think he knows any like that. All this time the girl had been on the verge of tears and now she broke down again and sobbed unrestrained-

Was Not Bitter

" Was N&t True"

ton told me to go there and I was waiting for him. V .'\ : '~' Did not one 'of thCmen-teU that if he were your mother he would smack you until you could not stand? — He never said anything like that. -y Were you m the habit of \hanging about the men's bathing sheds In; the Park?— Yes.; .; 'V-'v ..." -'X x -V And sayings, things; to the men to lead them on — giving theni cheek? — > I never gave them cheek. Oh, well, call it what you like, a rose by any other name, you know. This concluded the case for the complainant and Mr. Burrage called his first- witness:. . V --- This was Alan Lambourne, a' diminutive youth, who said that the blind man, Dunne, him to act as a guide during" the period of his residence, m Masterton. It was his duty to call for Dunne at his workshop next to the ; Spackman house at about B, o'clock; hithe meriting. On Phe occasip^ when he arrived at. this time' he found.. Dunne and the girl SpaclariSui' in the workshop togetherv" " ' ' ;, 'y [ ""f\ -V George Oakle^sssfetsait gardener at- the Masterton "Park, 'said, that he remembered the" girl- iSpackmair coming into the tool shed' one day about '„ two years ago and making a remark * which caused him- to order' her but of the shed and tell herythat she deserved to be soundly smacked. - He could not remember rthe'^Xact words she used. Mr. Burrage ? s chief Witness" was ~ Mrs. Olive Gourlay, who said that she resided a few doors from the-Spack-man home and that until' Christmas, she had been very friendly with Mrs. Spackman. Mrs. Gourlay, said that she heard Mrs. Spackman reprove her daughter. . Gwen for her' "ckrryirigs on with boys," and that Beatty's name was specially mentioned. , ,„ x-l She herself heard that the girl Spackman , r and ;tfiis~Beatty were . : seten going ihto'the scirub together dowii by the. river and she had heard about the incident of the , tin which fell from Beatty's ' clothes. One day when both. Mr. and Mrs. Spackman were away > v she saw the girl join. Beatty and go into a vacant section neltr her house where they remained 'for spine time. V "On another occasion she, was at the pictures with the girl and her mother when a boy named Lusty joined them and she was asked by Mrs. Spack- .-, man to move up a seat so that "Gwen could sit next to her boy." After the pictures the girl walked home with this boy and another boy named Ridgeway. ■' . /

Mrs. Gourlay said that when Mrs. Spackman knew of the girl's condition she taxed her with going out with boys, but the girl denied it and told her mother that she was mad to talk to her like that. '.'-•'

Mrs. Spackmah : also told her. that she heard that the girl had been m a • • ' ' whare owned by

the man Ridgeway and that someone, told her to look m; the girl's pockets when she- came :