FRACAS AT DANCE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 6

FRACAS AT DANCE

Efforts of a “Peacemaker” DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR CHARGES The efforts of a self-styled peacemaker to keep order at a Kaiwarra Rugby hootball Club dance in the Kaiwarra School on June 12 were described in the Magk»trate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, when four young men appeared before Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M., charged with disorderly behaviour. They were John Kenneth Sneddon Ferguson, railway employee, John Ralph Cairncross, Aubrey Douglas Stunden, grocer's assistant, and John McCann, paper ruler. McCann was also charged with striking another person. All defendants pleaded not guilty and conducted their own defence. Ferguson was convicted and fined 10/- and costs, while the charges against the others were dismissed. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach conducted the prosecution. Nelson Thomaa Wood, engineering employee, said he was captain Of the Kaiwarra team and a member of the dance committee. About 11.15 p.m. he saw some young men bating a good-natured argument. A man named Ferguson evidently thought the argument was serious and offensively told them to get outside. There was a scuffle, and witness next saw Ferguson moving away with a cut over his eye. McCann helped to bathe the cut. To the magistrate, witness said Ferguson had no status in the football club. When Ferguson was called to give evidence against the others the magistrate ordered him to stand down, remarking that he had never heard of a person being called from the defendant’s stand to give evidence against others. A statement made by Ferguson to the police was produced, in which he said he was sober when he attended the dance. He was asking some young men not to argue inside when four others rushed at him, and assaulted him. When he was going to bathe a cut over his eye one of them put his arm around his waist and said, “Let me help you. This should never have happened. I am sorry.” He knew only three of the four who assaulted him. Constable Downes produced a statement by McCann, who said that a stranger interfered in an argument, and was told to mind his own business. He tried to put them out, and a scuffle took place in which he (McCann) punched the other in the eye. A statement by Oairncross was similar in effect. “I am a Peacemaker.” Ferguson, in evidence, said he went into the ball after having a drink. He saw the young men arguing and said to them, ‘‘Now. boys, be friends.” They resented his interference and started a scuffle. He received a blow on the eye. In addition, another man got his finger into his eye and roller] it about, causing him nearly to lose consciousness. McCann tried to help him bathe the eye, saying he was sorry it happened and that they were all drunk. McCann was in such a state that he bathed the ear instead of the eye. A little later the men gathered round him again and started another argument, but he insisted on getting his coat and going home, “I am a peacemaker,” said witness. “I belong to a Christian society, St. Andrew’s Church, and always try to do my best.” The magistrate: Why, in those circumstances, did you trouble the police with the matter. To Sub-Inspector Roaeh witness said it was water he drank before going into the hall. Evidence in support of their statements was given by each of the other defendants.