SCOUNDRELLY BEHAVIOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1918, Page 6

SCOUNDRELLY BEHAVIOUR.

OF A SWISS LABORER,

This was a case, heard before Mr. \V. E. Haselden, S-M., on Wednesaay at the Manaia Court, in whic'h a Swiss named Jolian Meir or, in its anglicised form, John Meyer, claimed a balance of wages, amounting to £23, from Mr- 1' ox, 1 farmer, Kapuni. Mr. O'Dea appeared •for plaintiff and Mr. Bennett for deI fendant.

The evident want tip show that plaintiff was engaged on the fann at a wage of £3 a week from August 24, 1917, to January 19, and received durng that period moneys amounting to £42. A few days preceding the latter date, at 10 o'clock at night, Mr. Fox being absent from home, Meyer approached Mrs. Fox and made an indecent proposal to her He had in liis face the expression of a beast, and Mrs. Fox, being at the time in bad health and under medical care, the conduct of the man seriously upset her. She, however, firmly repulsed him, and he did not again interfere with her, and on her husband's return he was hunted off the premises. His request for the balance of bis wages was refused. Meyer it the calmly admitted the statement made as to Ins conduct, and further made the atrocious statement to the Court that Mr. Fox had privately sugges'mt to him to behave as he had done towards his wife. His Worship stigmatised the latter infamous statement in strong terms, and said Mevcr should have received summary punishment at the hands of Fox. Women in country districts were often exposed to contact or this kind, and it was right that the country should know the kind of man this waa. Mr Bennett said that was precisely the object of Mb clients in bringing the ease into court. They did not deny the indebtedness, tout for the sake of other women thev wished to brand this man and advertise his ruffianly conduct. "His Worship concurred- It was tne n«ht thing to do. In giving judgment for £2l he said he should really like to penalise Meyer, told him that lie hid had a narrow escape, and warned liu that if he carried on in tins way he would find himself subjected *o extrajudicial treatment.— Wannate Witness.