FIGHTING AT DANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 9

FIGHTING AT DANCE.

FOOTBALLERS IN TROUBLE.

CALL TO TEAM MATES

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT,

The sequel to a disturbance at a dance at Patumahoe on September 19 was the appearance at the Pukekohe Police Court yesterday of several Auckland Rugby footballers and a Patumahoe resident. H. Robinson, a Patumahoe player, was charged with fighting, disturbing a dance and behaving in a disorderly manner. Evidence was given by a member of the Mount Roskill team to the effect that Robinson struck a visiting footballer, Diamond. In. the scuffle both were pushed through a pane of glass.

The secretary of the Mount Roskill Rugby Club said Diamond had given trouble earlier in the day and had

walked off the football field after having argued with his co-players. Witness had apologised for Diamond's behaviour to both the local people and the manager of the Auckland team. Defendant told the Court that he was endeavouring to get the Auckland juniors away. Diamond was the aggressor. Four charges of disturbing an entertainment, fighting, behaving in a disorderly manner, and disorderly behaviour while drunk, were preferred against R. S. Diamond. R. F. Galbraith, manager of the Auckland junior team, stated the team called at " Patumahoe on its return from' Waiuku, the Mount Roskill team haying been playing at' Patumahoe. Some eight or nine men were engaged in the disturbance in the hall and McCabe and Diamond were the only ones he could recognise. While the pair referred to ; were being separated some person struck McCabe. Defendant, Diamond, gave evidence, and' said he considered that Robinson was the aggressor. J. W. McLennan was charged with being disorderly in a public place, with fighting and disturbing an entertainment. C. McCabe was also charged with fi nr htiu cr and with disturbing an enter- © o | tainment. | McCabe said that while endeavouring j to separate two who were spamng, someone struck him. McLennan said that McCabe entered the hall looking for "tlie tough guy of the place." He denied he caused trouble. "There has been a great deal of c\ idence, and from it I can gather an idea lof the state of the atmosphere at I Patumahoe on the night of the disturbance," was the magistrate s comment. "The most troublesome appear to have been Diamond and McCabe. I have never known anyone yet who was worth his salt who drunk liquor when playing football.' He added that he. was inclined to think Hobinson had been officious. However, in dismissing the informations against Robinson he warned him not to get into such a position airain. It was the duty of the man in charge of the dance to take measures. The charges against McLennan were dismissed. Diamond was fined £5 and ordered to pay £3 19/4 costs; McCabe was fined £3 and ordered to pay costs. They were allowed one month «nd three weeks respectively in which to pay. The magistrate described the whole affair as disgraceful.