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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3940, 15 August 1881, Page 2

A BA.THEB curious judgment summons case came before Mr Shaw, R.M., at Wellington on Monday. The defendants were women of illrepute, named Mary Bowen andEose Palmer, against whom Mr W. Alcorn, draper, appeared to obtain an order for payment, by periodical instalments or otherwise, on account of judgment that had previously been made against them. Mr Shaw, R.M., declined to grant such an order, remarking that" if drapers and others choose to 'rig out' women of this class on the credit system, they must accept the risk of their action." Mr Alcorn said he understood the calling of a 'prostitute was not an illegal one, to which his Worship replied, " There was suoh a thing as an immoral contract, such contracts being void." Mr Shaw added that he had already had occasion to point out that tradesmen could only legally recover debts of prostitutes when those debts were for the common necessaries of life, suoh as food, ordinary, clothing, &o. Mr Alcora said the goods supplied included ordinary clothing. Dpon this the Magistrate referred to one of the items—" morning wrapper." Both OS sea were then adjourned for twenty/ eight days.