WOMAN FRIGHTENED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 2

WOMAN FRIGHTENED

MAN ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES SENT TO PRISON FOR MONTH iSppcial to Times.) TE AROHA, Monday A sentence or a month’s imprisonment with hard labour was imposed upon Lancelot Goodger, a horsebreaker, when he appeared In the Te Aroha Magistrate’s Court, before Mr \v. H. Freeman, S,M., on the charge or being round by night without lawrul excuse in an enclosed yard ol a Herriesville residence. Goodger. who nad previously been granted two remands on bail In order to prepare his defence was represented by Mr Barrett, or Morrinsville, and pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting, Constable Monson said that in response to an urgent call received in the early hours or August I S, a constable visited complainant’s house. It was alleged that uoodger, who was drunk, had knocked at her door. A search was made but tlie con-table could find no trace .*'l' Goodger. He arrested him next morning. The complainant in evidence stated that she was awakened at 1.30 a.m. by the accused knocking at the front door. He was under the influence of liquor and had no authority to be on the property. As a result of his attitude she became alarmed and made a pretence in order to call upon ner neighbour for help she was sure it was Goodger as the light from the bedroom was sufficient to recognise lihn. Constable Parker gave evidence that he had seen accused and another man before midnight, when both were under the innucnce of liquor. Defence of Mistaken Identity Goodger said in evidence that lie was at Mr H. E. Collins’ place Trom 6.30 p m. to t. 30 a.m. on the night of August l-i. lie went straight home after leaving a party at Collins. H. E. Collins and W. E. Gray gave evidence, the former that Goodger left at t. 30. He heard him talking outside some 15 minutes later. Both witnesses admitted having had drink. Counsel for the defence based his case on possible ml-takcn identity, but the magistrate said that in every town there were certain characters who were well known to the public, and in this case the possibility or a mistake was very remote. "A drunken waster, that i* all he i-s,” continued the magistrate, “and he expects me to accept his evidence before that of this woman. I have warned him time and again but he will take neither heed nor advirp. He is nothing but a humbug and has the cheek to bring to this court an unimpressive type nr witnes-s, both or whom were drunk in the night in ques-