AN IMPORTUNATE YOUNG MAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1197, 28 June 1884, Page 1

AN IMPORTUNATE YOUNG MAN.

At the Resident Magistrate's (Jourt Christchurch. on Wednesday morning, Harry D, Bradley, a young man described as a horse trainer, was charged under section 4 of the Vagrant Act, 1866, Amendment Act, 1869, vvith '' indecent behavior to Martha Tressider, whereby a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.' Mr Beetham, R.M., was on the Bench. Mr Stringer appeared for the prisoner. Miss Tressider, a young person of rather prepossessing appearance, stated that she was the niece of Mr Grainger 1 licensee of the Southern Hotel, and she was at present staying with him. On Tuesday night she*had been spending the evening with some friends, and left for Lome shortly before ten o'clock. She was accompanied part of the way by two young ladies, who left her in High street. Immediately after the prisoner overtook her, and touching her on the shoulder asked her if her name was Walker 1 She replied in the negative. He then asked her if she would allow him 1o see her home. She made no answer. He also asked her her name, but she did not tell him. He then became communicative about himself. He said he had been living in town for two months, but had just bought a f,.rm seven miles from Chrisl church. Had Miss Tn-ssider ever lived in the country 1 She said she had lived there most of her life. Which did she like best, living in" the town or country 1 who were her friends- 1 and whore did she live 1 Just about this period of the conversation they readied the side door of the hotel, when Miss Tressider said, ' This is where I live,' and placed her hand on the knob of the door iinnule, intending to go in. The prisoner put his hand on hers, and detained her, saying, 'Oh, don't go in.' She said, 'I must.' He said, 'When can I see you again V She said, ' On Monday.' He said, 'Oh, that would not do for me ; cou'dn't you make it Tuesday V She said, ' Well, I must go in and see if I any engagements for Tuesday.' She then went into the hotel and told her aunt, who told her uncle, who went out to the prisoner. Mvps Tressider followed and pointed out the prisoner as the culprit. Her uncle said to prisoner, 'What does tins meau ] Step inside a moment.' The prisoner stepped inside and said he thought he had made a mistake. He then began to apologise. Mr Grainger sent for a policeman, and the prisoner kept on apologising until the policeman took him away on charge. There was no suggestion of the prisoner having said or done anything ruder to Miss Tressider than stated above, but he was a stranger to her, and be was slightly under the influence of liquor. Mr Stringer said Mr Grainger would have been wiser if he had accepted the the apology tendered. The case could not be brought under the clause of the Act named in the charge. The words of the clause were —' Any person who shall use threatening, abusive or insulting words, or behavior with intent to provoke a breach of the peace .... shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months with hard labor.' The man was in liquor, and had accosted the girl in mistake, There was nothing insulting in his conversation. He had certainly taken an unwarrantable liberty, but he had been locked up all night, and that ought to be considered sufhcient punishment. Mr Beetham said the charge was rightly made. If the thrusting, by the prisoner, of his maudlin attentions on to a respectable girl, to whom he was a perfect stranger, was not insulting and indecent behavior, what was 1 And if Miss Tressider had turned on him and heartily flapped his face—as he richly deserved — there would have been a breach of the peace at once. Our women must be protected. The prisoner would be fined £2 and costs, or the usual alternative, and it was well the prisoner kept within certain bounds, or be would have been sent to gaol without the option of a fine. The fiue was paid. - Pi ess.