SHOOTERS AT MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 7

SHOOTERS AT MEETINGS

TOWN HALL ROWDY .DISBELIEVED ( AND FINED.At tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, hefore Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, 8.M., Joseph 1 Thomas Coster, a labourer, pleaded not guilty to a charge of creatines disturbance in. a, public place, to wit, the Town Hall, on April 3. Mr. P. Jackson defended. .

Inspector HendTey stated that, the defendant was a member of the organised rowdy element whioh had been prosent at tho Hon. .F. M. B. Fisher's meeting. Hβ had ehouted out, and, after being warned, had been-removed from tfy> (wilding.: ■ . , . Evidence.as to the general disorder at the meeting was 'given by H. F. von Haa'Bt, (ohairmau of the meeting),'.and AValtei' George Stephens. .William Alexander Thomson stated that ho had warned defendant, and subsequently had had him removed from the hall. ' .

Mr. Jackson said that the case was one of mistaken identity—no doubt quite ah honest mistake. ■-. ' :\ '

In the witness-box defendant stated that he'was a wharf labourer by occupation, and had been a striker. Ho had been present at Mr. Fisher's meeting, but ho denied tho charge of shouting out or oven interjecting. William Graham stated that when Cosier was taken out'by tho constable he (witness) had pointed out that it was the wrongjnan. '••■'-. Henry Tearsoh for the defonoe as«erted that Coster had not opened his mouth during the course of the meeting. ■; • •~• •■■■ •■'.. . ■•■ ■■■ /The Magistrate remarked that he was apt satisfied with the evidence for the defonoe. Defendant would be convicted and 'fined £2 10s.. in default fourteen days' imprisonment. V