FORCED HIS WAY INTO CRICKET MATCH

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 13

FORCED HIS WAY INTO CRICKET MATCH

Man Fined For Assault “1 didn’t know there was a charge for admission; I honestly thought thtit the Basin Reserve was open at four o clock. ’ said Herbert Joseph Smith, explaining to Mr. W. F. Stilwell. S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, on Thursday, why he forced his way into the cricket match and struck the gatekeeper who asked him for his ticket. Smith, a labourer, aged 29. pleaded guilty to assaulting the gatekeeper, Frank Newman, and lie was also charged with obtaining admission to the Basin Reserve, where a sports meeting was in progress, without paying the price of admission. Newman in evidence said that Smith followed another man in. and when asked for his pass muttered something. Asked again, he stood back and struck witness three times. Later he saw Smith, struggling with another gatekeeper itt the further enclosure. Newman asked the court to deal leniently with Smith. He had no wish, he said, to make it hard for the man. “It seems to me that if you thought you had a legitimate excuse you should first have made an explanation to the gatekeeper in a civil manner rather than hitting him three times,” said the magistrate. “Gatekeepers don’t have a very happy job at the best of times. However, I shall take into account the fact that the witness urged leniency.” Qu the first charge. Smith was fined 20/-, costs 10/-. witnesses’ expenses 8/-. and on the second charge a fine of 10/was imposed.