INSULTING WORDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 61, 14 March 1910, Page 7

INSULTING WORDS.

A PECULIAR COURT CASE. A private prosecution touching on tne amenities of waterside workers was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. Joseph Hooper charged Joseph Thomas with using insulting words to him on the wharf on the 3rd inst., with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr. Hindmarsh appeared for informant, and Mr. P. W. Jackson was for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. James Hooper stated that he and defendant were casual wharf labourers Defendant had persistently for some time past insulted him by calling him "Amy Bock." On the 3rd inst. they were both working at the same ship. .While he was wheeling his truck along the wharf, defendant called out :o him, "Hullo, Amy — Amy Bock; hullo, Amy Bock 1 " Witness turned round and said to defendant : "Now, Joe, I've stood enough of tin's, and I intend to take proceedings to put a stop to it — and you — Jerry and Jimmy (addressing- two other wharf labourers),! will call as jpitnesses." To Mr. Jackson : I object to being called after a notorious criminal. Defendant persists in calling me after her. Why, I was going home in the tramcar the other night, when The Magistrate : Never mind about that. Evidence wab given by Jeremiah O'Brien and James Parker. The defendant, Thomas, admitted that he »vas working at the same ship as informant, but he denied calling him "Amy Bock." He had been called "Amy Bock" on numerous occasions himself — it was a common expression ou the wharf. Mr. Riddell held Hiat defendant must be convicted. He said that he was of the opinion that the words used were insulting. Although wharf labourers generally were not very thin-skinned, and conld stand a good deal of chaff, persistently calling a person a name-asso-ciated with a woman now undergoing a long term of imprisonment, he thought, would constitute an insult. Defendant was fined 20s, with costs £2. One week was allowed in whicL to pay the penalty. Penalty for default was seven days' imprisonment.