A SALUTARY LESSON.

Evening Star, Issue 12944, 6 May 1908, Page 6

A SALUTARY LESSON.

TWO BAD CASES. Two young men—David King and Waltci Goodman—wore before the Police Court this morning charged with using offensive behaviour on the Corporation tramcars, to tho annoyance of passengers. King’s offence was committed on April 7; Goodman’s on April 10. The charges were pre. erred under the Corporation by-laws; if they had been brought under the Police Offences Act the offenders might, as was said in court, have been more adequately dealt with. In both cases the men used bad language before women. The only difference between the cases was that King was admitted to be verydrunk, while Goodman was described as being only slightly under the influence. Mr Scurr defended both men, who pleaded guilty. Mr W. C. MacGregor, representing the Council, said that King boarded a car at the Post Office on the evening of April 7, faking his seat on the front platform. A lady stepped upon the same platform, and tho guard, coming to collect her fare, asked King for his. King replied; “ You have my fare; you are one of those smart .” The fact was that the man was in a very bad state of drunkenness, and did not know what he was saying. Later the conductor noticed King moving closer to the lady, who was very frightened and excited, She told him (the conductor) that she 'had been insulted, and asked him to stay beside her. The man was handed over to a constable at Cargill's Comer, but the police could take no action, because tho lady would not give her name. Mr Scurr said that Mr MacGregor was quite right m saying that defendant did not know what he said, lie had not even any recollection of hoarding the car. He was a respectable young man, felt very sorry, and would apologise if he knew who the lady was. Mr MacGregor outlined the facts of Goodman’s case. He handed to the magistrate a ci py of the incredibly disgusting language used by this defendant. Mr Scurr said that this man bad been in sackcloth and a.she.s ever since. He had apologisr-d to the tramway manager and to the conductor, and had expressed his regret to the Tramways Committee. The Magistrate (Mr Graham) said that defendants were fortunate not to be prosecuted for rising obscene language. The use of coarse and filthy language was becoming too habitual, and Mr AViddovvson and himself were of one mind to deal severely with offenders as opportunity offered. Defendants would be fined 40s each (the maximum under the by-laws) and costs.