CITY POLICE COURT.
Tuesday, May 30.
(Before E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M.)
Drunkenness. — For this offence Elizabeth Lindsay was convicted and liberated ; Mary Connelly was fined 5s, with the usual alternative.
Vagrancy. — Grace Morris, charged on remand with having no lawful means of support, was discharged, as the gaol chaplain promised to interest himself on her behalf. -Evening Star, 30/5/1882.
Obscene Language. — Grace Morris , for using obscene language in Stafford street, was fined 20s, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Neglected Child. — Zion Fergusson, an illegitimate child, was brought before the Court as neglected. The evidence showed that the child had been neglected by its mother (the woman Morris, just convicted for obscenity) since its birth four months ago. — His Worship: As the mother has not paid her fine the child will either have to go to gaol with her or be committed to the Industrial School. I think under the circumstances the Industrial, School is the best place for it, and it will be committed for seven years. -Otago Daily Times, 26/7/1882.
The Industrial School. — An information wag heard against Grace Morris, calling upon her to contribute towards the support of her illegitimate child now in the Industrial School. — An order was made for the payment of 2s weekly. -Otago Daily Times, 28/7/1882.
At the Dunedin Police Court on Friday last, Grace Morris, an old offender, was charged with having insufficient lawful means of support. She said, "I am ill. I have nothing but the few clothes I now wear, and I sleep in them. I am willing to work, but people want a pure moral character and I know of none but the Lord Jesus Christ who can boast one." The accused lately came from the West Coast. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. When leaving the dock she exclaimed, "When I get out of gaol I will send somebody else into it." During the hearing of the case it transpired that the accused's furniture consisted simply of an old kerosene-tin, and that the clothing she had on comprised an old gown, a dilapidated hat and a holey pair of shoes. -Mt Ida Chronicle, 10/8/1882.
Breach of the Peace. — Grace Morris was charged with having last evening committed a breach of the peace by shouting and yelling outside the Queen’s Theatre. — Defendant, who was extremely eccentric in her manner, explained that her conduct was occasioned “by some members of Parliament and ministers worshipping a piece of blue ribbon in the theatre.” They had set up this blue ribbon, she said, as a god, and the Bible taught that the only true God was the Lord Jesus Christ. — Evidence was given by the arresting constable of the offence, after which the Bench decided to discharge the woman on condition that she made no more noise in the streets. — Defendant: Well, I won’t promise that, your Worships. You see can’t help speaking when it comes into my head. The Bible says “Feed God’s lambs,” and children are God’s lambs. — Sergeant-major Bevin: Well, feed them in the back streets; in the by-ways. — Defendant: Yes; all right. Thank you. Goodbye all. -Evening Star, 6/4/1886.
Vagrancy. — Grace Morris, a well-known character about town, was charged with having insufficient lawful means of support. — Accused contended that she had sufficient means of support. She made table-covers and did crochet work, which she sold to people, and In proof of this she put 5s on the table in Court. Sergeantmajor Bevin said the woman went about town singing, ranting, and roaring, and wherever she went she drew a crowd about her. She joined the “Army” some time ago, but had a disagreement with them, and started a sect of her own. She was a great nuisance, and complaints against her had been sent to the police by several respectable citizens. — Mr Reeves: What is the nature of her discourse? — Sergeantmajor Bevin: It varies. Sometimes is abusing people and sometimes preaching them. Sergeant Geerin, Sergeant Mulville, and Sergeant-major Bevin gave evidence. — Accused complained that the police had kept her son from her for the last ten years and had not allowed her to see him, and remarked that she was in the position of the king with 10,000 men who went to fight against his enemy who had 20,000; he had to sue for peace. — Mrs Buchanan stated that accused worked for her, sometimes scrubbing her house out and at other times doing crochet work.— The Bench convicted accused and ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon. -Evening Star, 20/6/1891.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.
The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held this afternoon, and attended by Messrs A. Solomon (chairman), C. Haynes, W. Swan, R. Wilson, and I. Green. The Chairman said in reference to Grace Morris, a woman who goes about the street singing hymns and smoking cigarettes, that a lady came to his office last week and said that if the Institution would make an allowance of a few shillings to the woman's support she would cease parading the streets. He farther stated that Grace Morris came and saw him (the chairman) to-day, and said she would not stop parading the streets, and he thought, therefore, it would be better to let the matter drop. Mr Wilson: Why not send her to the Institution?
Mr Solomon: She won't go off the streets.
About fifty cases for relief were then dealt with. -Evening Star, 29/6/1892.
During this week two women, who were wellknown characters in town, have been committed to the Lunatic Asylum at Seacliff. Martha Squires, one of these, is the woman who might have been seen day after day, for months past, standing outside the Resident Magistrate's Court, or, more recently, sitting on the stone steps leading to the Supreme Court. Though she did not seem to have a sufficiency of clothes to protect her against the severe weather, she took up her position every morning, wet or dry, cold or fine, and remained in it till late in the afternoon. It is her deep-rooted conviction that she has been swindled out of some property, and it was in the hope that something would turn up that she regularly appeared in the morning at the entrance to the Resident Magistrate's Court. The other woman who has been committed to the asylum is Grace Morris, who is more widely known than the other. It is she whose eccentricities of conduct, sometimes taking the form of public praying or of singing Salvation, Army hymns in the streets, have frequently attracted crowds of children round her, or have secured for her an escort of larrikins upon her peregrinations through the city. -Otago Daily Times, 6/7/1893.
Grace Morris went into the Asylum. There her reported story ends.
On Wednesday evening or Thursday morning a most serious accident befell a woman named Martha Squires, wife of a miner living up the Arrow River. Mrs Squires was noticed on Wednesday afternoon on her way homeward and nothing more was seen of her till next morning, when her cries attracted the attention of some miners, who on proceeding to the spot discovered the unfortunate woman lying on the river beach dreadfully bruised and with one leg broken. From the place and position in which she was found, it is evident Mrs Squires had a most miraculous escape from death, as she must have descended some hundreds of feet and she brought down the river, and taken to the Hospital. -Lake County Press, 20/12/1872.
FOB. SALE.
HALF-SHARE in Extended Claim of Two Acres situated at Cumberland Point, Arrow River, together with Halfshare in Tools, Plant, &c.
The Claim lately belonged to Thomas Bradbury and Francis Squires (deceased).
Tenders for Purchase to be sent to Wesley Turton, Solicitor, Queenstown, not later than 31st July, 1879.
MARTHA SQUIRES
Administratrix of the Estate and Effects of Francis Squires (deceased). -Lake County Press, 10/7/1879.
A GRIEVANCE.
TO THE EDITOR LAKE COUNTY PRESS.
Sir, — The circumstances in connection with the administration of my late husband’s estate seem to have got into a peculiar state. My husband has been dead over four years and the affairs remain in status quo at this present time. Surely the legal process is slow and complicated to require so long a time to wind up the estate, which, by the way, was mostly in hard cash in the bank. Why, I ask, should the lawful wife be deprived of her own so long? It is a question which will be hard to answer. Certainly I have received a few pounds now and again, but why do I not get a just settlement at once, so as to enable me to invest my own as seems fit to me? Without wishing to reflect upon the honesty of any one, I trust a speedy settlement will be the result of this communication.
am, &c., Martha Squires, (Relict of the late Francis Squires, Arrow River.) Arrow, Aug. 23. -Lake County Press, 24/8/1883.
A Mrs Martha Squires writes to us from Arrowtown complaining that her late husband's estate has not been wound up, although he has been four years dead. This is not a public grievance. She should apply to the executors, and if they are not doing their duty, to a court of law. -Otago Daily Times, 27/8/1883.
"The Root of all Evil" A Mrs Martha Squires, residing at Arrowtown, appears to have made "the welkin ring" with her supposed wrongs. The facts of the case, briefly told, are as fellow: — About four years ago her husband, Francis Squires, a miner, died intestate at the Frankton Hospital, leaving £480 in cash deposited at the Bank of New Zealand, Arrowtown, and other personal property to the amount of £50 or thereabouts. In order to obtain letters of administration Mrs Squires appointed two trustees, who advertised for the relations her deceased husband was said to have in Victoria. In answer to this advertisement two brothers and a sister sent in claims, which Mrs Squires disputes, but refuses to have legally tested, claiming to be entitled to the whole of her late husband's property. It may further be stated that the widow has received her share in full, and that it is entirely her fault that the affair has not long since been brought to an issue and finally wound up. -Otago Witness, 8/9/1883.
We have received from Mrs Martha Squires, Arrow River, another letter relating to her late husband’s monetary affairs. If Mrs Squires his cause of complaint against anyone in connection with the estate she should consult a lawyer. Writing to the papers will not improve her position. -Cromwell Argus, 11/9/1883.
It was just above here where, about ten years ago, an unfortunate woman fell from the old road — about 100 ft. higher than the present one — into the river bed; and, although falling from a height of 500ft., she sustained no other injury than a few scratches and a broken ankle. This miraculous escape is explained by the woman by the statement that, in her fall, she first struck upon a bank of loose soft shingle lying at the foot of the precipice, and sloping at a steep angle, thus breaking the force of the fall, but when rolling down which with considerable impetus her left foot struck a projecting boulder with such force as to fracture her ankle. The writer was one of the first on the scene of the accident, and can vouch for particulars related. The unfortunate woman is still alive and well, and her name having recently got into print it may be repeated here — Mrs Martha Squires. When recovering from the shock of the fall, and the full patent of her position dawned upon her, her first words, after having made inquiries about a certain article of her belongings, were — "Oh, dear, the jam-making season will be over before my leg is better!" -Lake Wakatip Mail, 22/2/1884.
CITY POLICE COURT.
Tuesday, July 20. (Before Mr H. Gourley, J.P.)
A PECULIAR CARACTER. — An elderly woman named Martha Squires was charged with having insufficient lawful means of support. — Sergeant O'Neill said that this woman was a widow, and lived at Pelichet Bay. She had been in the habit of going to the R.M. Court about 10 o'clock in the morning for the past 12 mouths; she brought a little lunch with her, and remained about the court till the evening. She was receiving 5s from the Benevolent Institution and it cost her 2s for rent, which left her 3s a week to live on. She was a continual nuisance to the officers of the court, and had been so for a long time. — George Henry Barnes and Sergt. Geerin gave evidence, the latter asking his Worship to caution the woman. — Mr Gourley (after accused had made a long statement, in which she said "she would be most happy to stay away from the court, but if she did, how was she going to get her rights") said there was no doubt accused was a great nuisance to the court officials and to the merchants, and if she persisted in going on as she had been doing she would have her 5s a week stopped. The case would be dismissed. — Accused then left the court asking "but who was to get her her rights?" -Otago Daily Times, 27/7/1892.
The Agnews — man and wife — were a terrible nuisance in Dunedin for a long, time, but they were at length silenced. The policy of "compensating" them proves to have been a bad one, for another nuisance has now sprung up in their place, and before the new trouble is allayed I dare say there will have to be some more "compensating." The latest pest is one Martha Squires, who avers that eight or ten years ago two lawyers cheated her out of L500 — a story in which I believe there is a certain modicum of truth. She hangs about the Resident Magistrate's Court for the purpose of obtaining "her rights," but so far she has not bothered anybody much, although she is quite capable of doing so. -Clutha Leader, 29/7/1892.
The next published reference to Martha Squires names her in conjunction with Grace Morris, being committed to the Seacliff Asylum. She also disappears from the world at this time.
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