MISCHIEF IN TRAM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 288, 1 September 1931, Page 11

MISCHIEF IN TRAM

• An Abusive Passenger WINDOW-PANE BROKEN Refusal to stop smoking in the compartment of a tram involved Donald James Leggat, aged 19, in happenings which led to his appearance before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Convicted of using obscene language and committing mischief by breaking a pane of glass, he was fined £2 on each charge. Defendant was a passenger on a Kilbir-nie-Lambton Station tram on Saturday evening, Senior-Sergeant Edwards told the magistrate. While going along the Quay, the conductor requested Leggat to desist from smoking in a non-smoking compartment. He was still smoking when they reached the Government Buildings. As he was getting off the tram he used offensive language. The conductor made an attempt to grab him, and as he did so Leggat fell against the window, breaking the glass. The tram conductor, in describing the incident, said that Leggat was not sober. From the dock defendant denied using the language complained of, and alleged that the conductor pushed him through the window. He said he was sober. The Magistrate: Not stone sober. As there were no women about you will be fined £2 on the charge of using obscene language, and cn the other charge you will be fined a similar amount. Leggat was ordered to make good the damage, amounting to 15/-. Homeless Girls “You are an older girl than your friend; you have got further into trouble than she has, and I am afraid you have taken her with you,” the magistrate said addressing a woman, aged 26, who with another, aged 19, admitted being found unlawfully on premises in Dixon Street. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that the accused were found eating fish and chips in the City Council milk depot building in Dixon Street, about 11.20 on Saturday night. When questioned by a constable the younger girl said she had accompanied the elder one there as she had been turned out of her home. The elder one had been going a little fast lately, and needed some restraint. . “I will give you a chance. If you are wise you will take it,” said the magistrate to the younger girl, in admitting her to probation for two years. “You will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months,” he said to the other. “You will not be called upon if you go to a Salvation Army home and remain there for that period. If you do not do that you will be brought up for sentence, and if I am on the bench, you will get a long term of imprisonment." An order was made for the suppression of the names. Fined for Drunkenness For a second offence of drunkenness, Lindsay Duguitl, labourer, aged 46, was fined £l, in default seven days’ imprisonment.