Woman Defied Wardens During Emergency Trial

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 4

Woman Defied Wardens During Emergency Trial

Wellington, Aug. 22. Said to have defied three wardens, a I traffic inspector and a constable in a walk through an area in which an E.P.S. trial was taking place, Mary Anderson was charged before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, with failing to obey the instructions of a street warden in ,a dispersal area. Senior-Sergeant G. Paine said that during a trial in area 15 accused was seen walking down Thompson Street. She was told she would have to take shelter, but she said she was going for a walk. Asked for her name and address, she told | the warden he would have to walk a long way to find out. When finally she encountered the constable, and still refused to reveal her identity. she was taken into custody, where she finally gave her name and address. Senior-Sergeant Paine said he thought accused's action was largely a result of hot-headedness. but the wardens were not there for their own amusement. They were there for the public safety. Describing the events as a comedy oi errors, Mr. D. Perry said that when a warden detached himself from a group of men as she was walking through the street accused thought he was "gettiig fresh" with her. Mr. Goulding: Was the warden weaving a badge?" Mr. Perry: I suppose so. Mr. Goulding: I suppose wardens wearing their badges can "get fresh" with anyone. Mr. Perry said that as further officials approached her during her walk she got stubborn and refused to give her name or address. "Whatever misunderstanding she might have been under in the first place, it must have become obvious to her later that the men had authority," said the magistrate when imposing a fine of £2.