A DANGEROUS "DRUNK."

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 249, 20 October 1893, Page 2

A DANGEROUS "DRUNK."

FLOURISHING A BOOTMAKER'S

KNIFE

At tho Polico Court thia morning, before Messrs 11. M. Shephard and A. Clemonts, J.P.'b, Robert Butler, a young man, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Victoria-street last night. Defendant admitted tho offence. Sergeant Gamble said he would like evidence taken in the caso. Constable Fry deposed that ho was on duty in Victoria-street at 8.45 last nighb, when he heard some person, who proved to be defendant, coming around the corner of Albert-street, shouting out, " Keep clear of me, I've got a knife." Defendant had a shoemaker's knifo aboub one foot long in his right hand. When defendanb was near the Aurora Hotel he slashed aba man with the knife without provocation. Witness ran after defendanb and closed on him, getting him on the ground, when ho handculled him. The defendant made one or two attempts to strike witnesß with the knife before ho succeeded in handcuffing him. Butler was then taken to tho police station, with assistance. At this stage, a person in tho body of the Courb cried oub: "Ib was only a bootmaker's knife." The police restored order, wheia the individual sobbed out : " My boy would not hurt anybody." The man proved to be the father of defendant, and was romoyed from the Court weeping violently. Sorgt. Gamble, in reply to a question by tho Bench, eaid thab the defendant had been employed as second cook on board one of the Union Co.'s boats. He had nob been before the Courb before. Defendant said thab he waa very drunk or he would nob have had the knife. Some money had been sent out to the family from bhe Old Country, and he got a drop too , much. r The Bench said ib being a first offence, they would only impose a fino of 20s or 48 hours' imprisonment, at the same cautioning defendant.