TANGNEY'S TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 5

TANGNEY'S TROUBLES.

TORRENT OF LANGUAGE. CROWDED COURT ENTERTAINED. FIXED £5 FOR ASSAULTING TENANT. The Police Court was packed to the doors this morning, when the leisured gentry who thronged the public portion were entertained by a garrulous, gesticulating man with a pronounced Irish brogue, whose torrent of language swept through the Court as a. baby tornado. He was Maurice Tangney (32), and he pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting his tenant, Norman Augustine Edgar. Edgar, who wore a large bandage over the left side of the head, said that accused had two rooms in the same house as witness lived in. "Tangney had threatened to murder me. break my nose, and have my blood, because he 6aid I owed him three weeks' board," said Edgar. Yesterday morning while witness was in bed. Tangney came the room and struck him. afterwards knocking him down and kicking him. Tangney: You pinched my milk out of the billy ever since you stayed at the house, didn't you?— No. \ou have thrown stones on my roof at night time?—Xo. Tangney caused much amusement bY the subsequent scries of questions fired at the witness, including one which suggested that Edgar had not had a bath since he rented the rooms from him. The arresting constable said that Edgar was bruised, his face being covered in blood. Tangney, in evidence, stated that he had some provocation. "Edgar is the worst tenant I've ever had; he has done everything wrong since he Tins been in the house Mr. McKean: I don't want to know about that. "He can't speak without using bad language either "That's enough," said Mr. McKean. "I never had my breakfast before he ■" Mr. McKean: I don't care about that. And off Tangney went again, telling Mr. McKean that he gave Edgar onlr two "straight lefts," but did not kick him, and that he was having trouble with his tenants and mortgagees. It was Edgar who threatened him. '"That's enough. I can quite understand anyone using bad language at you, after talking with you for two minutes," said the magistrate. "Each of your straight lefts will cost you £2. Take the man away." But Tangney remained in the dock, and began to get into top gear again. Mr. McKean: Take him awav; he's convicted and fined £5. And accused left, muttering his objections.