BAD LANGUAGE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 8, 4 October 1927, Page 6

BAD LANGUAGE

AUCTIONEER CONVICTED AND FINED. Palmerston North, October 3. As a result of happenings in the bar of the Post Office Hotel on August 11, Burton Charles Waldegrave, an auctioneer, was to-day lined £5 for indecent language by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., According to Senior-Sergeant O’Grady, who attended for the police, defendant was in the Post Office Hotel at about six o’clock on the evening of August 11. He had a drink with another "man, and shortly afterwards the licensee of the hotel asked him to leave the bar, as it was just on closing time. Defendant then made use of indecent language, and pushed the licensee aside.- A constable was called, but arrived inside the hotel as defendant went out.

Evidence was given by Frederick Patterson, the licensee of the hotel, and Eileen Patterson, wife of the licensee, who was present. On behalf of defendant, Mr. Cooper contended that there was not sufficient evidence of indecent language. Waldegrave had lived a very long, time in Palmerston North, and he did not have a reputation for using foul language. Defendant, in evidence, denied the charge, and James Henry Rickman, accountant, stated that he was standing practically alongside defendant in the hotel, and did not hear him use any bad language. After reviewing the evidence the Magistrate convicted and fined defendant on the indecent language charge, and gave him the benefit of the doubt concerning an alternative charge of refusing to leave licensed premises when called upon.