WITHOUT TICKETS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 155, 12 April 1928, Page 4

WITHOUT TICKETS.

TWO MEN DRUNK ON TRAIN. 1 JOURNEY FROM ASHBURTON. (Special to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Wifjh the Easter holiday leeling high p upon them Charles Hunter, aged 40,.' and John McDowell, aged 37, boarded the Chrstchurch express at Ashburton yesterday without their train tickets. - The fact that they were drunk was obvious, and their fa dure to comply with the guard's request for tickets : brought them into further prominence. The men promised to pay for the fares before they reached Christchurch, but having no money were unable to do ; '■ so. . _ ' Taken into custody by the Stationmaster at Christchurch, they were, given a further chance to pay for their journey, but their financial embarrassment was too great an obstacle. The police were then called in, and the two men appeared at the Police Court this morning before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., on charges of drunkenness on a railway platform, and with having failed to' produce their tickets when called "upon. Both pleaded guilty. ' Chief -Detective Carroll outlined the circumstances of the case, explaining . that neither man had any money. For drunkenness each defendant was convicted and fined 20s and car fare, in default' 24 hours' imprisonment. Fines of £2 each, in default fourteen days'" imprisonment with hard labour, was imposed for failure to pay the train, fares.