A DANCING PARTNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 6, 29 March 1927, Page 9

A DANCING PARTNER

A Kiss and a Slap

SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT

“ Wanted, iaay, young, as dancing partner, willing to travel. Experience not necessary, good salary and expenses.” This advertisement in an Auckland daily paper recently brought 80 or 90 replies, and led to the appearance in the Police Court to-day of Francis Jocelyn Johnstone Fletcher.

Among the numerous aspirants for dancing fame .was Susan Morrison Conning Kerr, a young Jady of 17, to whom Fletcher replied, under the name ' “C Burton,” asking for her photo. The photo not being forthcoming, “Mr. Burton” sent a telegram to Miss Kerr, asking her to call at Ponsonby Hall at 8.30 p.m. on March 14. He had engaged the hall for the evening with the idea of interviewing the host of applicants. Miss Kerr, no doubt, felt flattered and not a little pleased when she found herself the chosen one. Three pounds a week was offered her while learning, and £l2 12s. while on tour. Fletcher told her that he had been engaged by J. C. Williamson’s. She was told that she must ask her parents’ permission to leave New Zealand, and that she would be required to leave Auckland for Wellington on March 15. After that she would go on to Australia and eventually to England. After painting such a rosy prospect for her future, Fletcher drove Miss Kerr home to Mount Eden. The two got out at the front gate, and he put his arm around her and kissed her. A slap in the face was his reward. “I told her that the best thing she could do while she was waiting was to take a flat,” he said in the course of a statement to the police. “I told her that she was not to tell anyone about the contract she had entered into. I made an appointment to meet

the girl at 2.15 p.m. on March 15, but the appointment was not kept.” In the Magistrates’ Court this morning Fletcher was charged with assaulting Miss Kerr and also with a breach of the conditions of his probation. Chief-Detective Cummings then related some of “Mr. Burton’s” previous history, which included two separate periods of two years’ reformative treatment, and a term of five years’ probation for false pretences. “There is no suggestion of impropriety,” said Mr. Clarke, Fletcher’s counsel, in asking for a fine. “He lias no explanation of this extraordinary conduct to offer,” commented the Magistrate. “The matter arose out of a joke,” said Mr. Clarke. “The advertisement was put in, with thd astounding results that have been brought to light.” For his breach of the terms of his probation, Fletcher was fined £lO, in default 14 days. The same period without the option, was the penalty for the assault charge. Mr. Clarke then pointed out that Fletcher had valuable contracts in connection with liis business as il firewood merchant, and his imprisonment would mean a loss ,of £2OO to £3OO, and also the loss of employment for numbers of men. In view of counsel’s plea for a fine instead of imprisonment, Mr. McKean stood the case down until this afternoon