Woman denies harassing phone calls

The Rhodesia Herald, 9 January 1974 A WOMAN denied in the Salisbury Magistrate’s Court yesterday that she made a number of harassing telephone calls to the mother of her son’s wife after a domestic dispute.

“I know absolutely nothing about these calls,” said Eileen Mabel Wilson (50), of Park Mansions, Second Street, Salisbury.

“I would not be childish enough to do anything like this. Up to now anything I have done, I have done within the law. I myself have had telephone calls of the same nature.”

Wilson is pleading not guilty to contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1972, by making eight telephone calls between November

1 and 15, 1978.

The charge alleges that Wilson made “telephone calls without reasonable cause for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience and needless anxiety”.

The magistrate, Mr CDN Harloe, is to give judgment on January 17.

Mrs Margaret Blake, of Winchester Road, Belvedere, told the Court of problems between her daughter and Wilson’s son.

“My daughter left him and this caused a certain amount of bad blood,” Mrs Blake said.

“My relationship with Mrs Wilson was friendly but she became very hostile.” Mrs Blake said there was one telephone call on November 1 when only two words were spoken. Subsequently she received another 11 silent calls that day.

Altogether she had a total of 51 silent calls on eight occasions up to November 15, said Mrs Blake.

Mr V. Bentley, chief telecommunications technician at Salisbury main exchange, gave evidence that certain calls originated from Wilson’s number.

He produced printed evidence that three calls were made from Wilson’s number to the complainant’s home on November 15. Nine other calls could not be confirmed. Woman Detective Section Officer D. Morrison read a “warned and cautioned” statement made on November 16 by Wilson.

In the statement, which was not challenged, Wilson said there was no member of her family on the premises at the time and she failed to see who could have made the calls.

Wilson also said her doors were open and the telephone was unlocked. Had she wished to speak to any member of the Blake family she would do so openly.

When asked by the magistrate if she wished to give evidence, Wilson replied: “I can only say I know nothing of these calls. I can’t say any more because it is true.”

The prosecutor, Mr Earle A. Partington, said it was significant that since Wilson was approached by police there had been no more calls.

Lessons for today

◆ Long/short distance communication has been made easier through the use of mobile phones that allow people to chat and/or exchange information, images, videos and voice notes, etc. ◆ Communication requires that phone users have good manners or etiquette whether it is a personal or business call. Courtesy matters. ◆ Abusing one’s rights and privileges when using telecommunications can be costly, because it is protected by the Postal and Telecommunications Act (Chapter 12:05). The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), established by the Postal and Telecommunications Act in 2000, provides the institutional framework for telecoms use in Zimbabwe.

◆ With the technological advancements, it is now very easy to check phone records and content of communications. In most countries it is also lawful to monitor and intercept certain communications. Terrorism and cyber-crime are some of the problems behind the monitoring and interception.

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