THE SPARGO CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 7 September 1882, Page 2

THE SPARGO CASE.

Constance Melins Spargo and Charles Smith were oharged, before H. S. Wardell, R;M,,i and Hi Beetham, J.P., at.Carterton yesterday, by John-Spargo with having stolen child from the custody of Mr G. H.'ShutV in'.whoie care he had placed it The child, a bright, intelligent little fellow of about sjx' yeiirs; was "in- Gourt in - charge - of ConßtiAl6'Beiihettß, ?V-i .Mr. Sandilands conducted the-ease for the pr"Becution L and Mr Bunny defended the prisoners, rirho* had been lodged in the lock-up tlie'pfevioiJß evening Mr Sandilands said; lie; was not answerable for the issuing nf 'the warrant, which Spargo had taken Wellnigy ton. Bo was itisiruoted no't to'press) he oharge if arrangements could be tnadfi to hand the child over permanently 'to tho fatiherr-i(8 natural/guardian.' If; the mother tliought'she W nSighl'to fetain ?tho child, she could ;to;the'Court' for an order. He suggested 'that :tli'e father, the responsible-party, l should'be .allowed <i ; take^theT and r the 'matter drop." ' '' ; i \ • The Benoh said it; would'be ;iorry to see ; any squabble in-Coutt : .aa to taking posses'sionjof the, child;.. j > [! JV, i Mr Bunny: The .mother might take possession, l ,~, / - t ' The Court.; ;I» she the tijotber I' Mr Sandilands: Oh I.admit, that, .air. The., Court. Then; the case will only lie<%irist' Smi th; > - r against Mta Spargo must be dismissed/ Mr Bunny: Then -I Vutirato it should be dismmissed against both.! The Court; The seotion providea that no proceedings oan be taken against the mother of the ohild..;;, r Mr Sandilanda. I agree with the deoisioQ of the Court. I-was not reßponaible as your Worship will see for,,-the issuing of the warrant. The Court; - Constable. Bennetts, give the the fptherr' Mrs Spargo/yoa are discharged. [Mrs Spargo! then, rushed ocross the court and att6mpt&2to''&!&. tfee saying, " If he does have the child I will again to-morrow.]; V : • ; v .Mr,Spargo; Vlanding in theiboii £ept ! th# boyibyUiimi. & & ".i The.Court .'(Mrs Spargoi you,had better leave the Court for a time.as you might be committed for oreating' a disturbance. i: : Mrs Spargo: I shan't say any more your worship,'but where the ohild goes I go. Mrs Spargo: lour Worship— Mr Sparim (in 1 a laud whisper): You shut; ijp or . I'll smack you across the mouth. •' ■' ■ ; :,v Mr Sandilands then proceeded with the case a'gaiii&t Smith. Be said the hoy had been .placed with Mr G.'H. Shute by life father, and Mrs .Spargo ; and 'Charles Smith .had unlawfully, taken him away. John Spargo deposed to having left the boy with Mr Shnte, and stated that the latter informed him the ohild had disappeared. He went to -Wellington, and thinking Smith and Mrs Spargo' were there, took ouU warrant fir their arrest. Neither his wife nor his' ohild Iran; at* Tremewan's with his consent, Mr Bunny: Have you spoken to her about the-child] ' -' '; : '' "Mr Spargo; lam dead to-her from the date of the order made in Mastertoh j l ( qnly ; oare, where the'boy afcops ;. - ■ .Mr Shute corroborated the informant's evidence as to the ohild having been 'left with him,' having Been him last at hia back door on Thursdav last; : . • He 1 knew Mrs Spargo by not Smith., ' • ; > Constance Merlina Spargo,' on entering the box, was'so severely overcome'tb&t ?ke,Md;to talce .a, .glas? lof water- before taking the oath. She deposed she wasthe wife of John Spargo, much. to her sorrow. j ; i "r,- . ; Mr 1 8andilands (eotto voce)TheOourt* has not to deal with the sorrow at<preseafc. Mrs Spargo: I went to Masterton last Thursday. - I went .with the; baby iand Charley, 'He went 1 td drive tne horse. 1 1 did not. go to Shutp's ;?I want--, to: Mr Bunny's office.■ I, was' ,Sever[CloW- to' Shute s than'the :road.!'. I' did, not go on. .'to. Shut'e's preniisesrvil'sa?f the boy' on tlie nad and pioked i. took him straight t6 Tremewati's/iftV'oaiiiiig at Mr Bunny'abfßce.ilhavenptleftthere till, Bennetts remove'd me yesterday Charley' was'in the trap when I tpok the toy. He drove us ba'ok after I had called at Mr Bunny's. (By Mr Burihy.) Itook theohild;6£f the ro' d." 'SrilMViid'hbthing to do with taking it. NS'ohe'lias 'SVeif 'had possession of the ohild until I was arrested. I told Spargo after the Masterton ■oase Id get the boy the first chance [bad,; 'Mjddidjoi hai hifdnfithingtodo' with tlie ohild, •>-• -• r The there| ; yas/ ncjt tlie. priwnjr/ discharged him. 'ir':.;': - .Mr Bunny, appiiedfor.costs., ' AMr Sandilands iiWhatinja case of felony, i '• The Court res'ervedats - debision until the aitting of.the; fOouyt at Masterton to-' day. - SOKSBII. ! Mr Spargo left the Court triumphantly with the boy, wfio' waV well ';Bupplied by both father and mother with' cakei and Bweebi.'; Shortly after, Spargo leen flying as if fori hiii-life. ,along tl)e main road, dragging hia ,chijd ,pth him, aud .hotly : .by- -"; Charley "I Smith, Spargo took refuge; in ,a,store, and Smith vm toilid. The m qulo3cly on tiie (

scene, and upbraided " Oharlie'Vfor Great* ins a disturbance, but shortly after dinner she laid an information agaimt Smith for s breach of the pence, and asked for the - protection of tbo Court as ibe was in bodily fear of him. ■ ■ 80KNE 10. The information was heard, Mr Sandilands appeared for Mr Spargo, Mrs Spargo 'conductingther own casejrand accused her husband of the mqet vile / language and diabolical threats, which' were duly set ■forth inthe information. t-Tbe Qourt ; thoa'ght any.mflasnre that ) h j _ would be i desirable one. ■ 'Mr/Sandilands oononrred with His Wojihip."' , The Court; I (biak it would be best ;to bind o#er both. Mr Spargo : I don't wish to so near Ithis'gjj'i'd woniaVafciin fettwittfme. 0 fl 1 " ; The Court, thought the case, mutt' be dismissed.'* i . }\ ' { . \ [MraSparno: If go near the inan again. v> A to get the child's -~.- alotnes whioh were at Mr Tremenan'a. • MrTremewan elothea r were at His place, aud eonld (jet' them if he came for them. • : ! MrSpargo said he only wanted them. went get'them. : ' , ' Mr Tremewan: All right I don't want them. ■ . The information ,was dismissed, Mr Tremewan clothes' t6 Spicer;' : 1 : . BOSNS IT> < • At about four o'olook Charles Smith, .who, smarting under a.ienae of injury fur having been locked up,' had become the worse for liquor, assaulting Mr Shuteanii • '. A Mauri interfering .wa&lalso . placed hurs de. combat Mr Tremewan the ,fray.,'fMwSps'rg9 theagofon Suiith's none'ahd : endeaVored to induce hjmto go home, but he .wanted eatisfao* ■ " ti >n out of lomebo'dyYhe.faid,,;. finally Tremewan dismounted and'got'Smith to get on his horse, and Charley and Merlina left the scene amid the cheers of the bystanders: .•if v . r At abyut 'six o'olook was observed carefolly euppprted a Con* stable on eaoh sideiraTellmg in the'iireo* tion of the look up, haviugbeen.arreited fori cheating was touch excitedjnd did not Beemjo appreciate the care : of the Cuiietal'lea, vowing l he Wouldhave ! 1 revenue? for all his troubles. ' i '■Tho capture of Smith was onlyjefflwted after an exoiting ohaae over fences, ditches ■ &0. ; .,