ANOTHER SIDE TO THE PICTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 6

ANOTHER SIDE TO THE PICTURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—l was astonished to rend in the report of the Police Court proceedings in. Monday’s ‘Star’ that a man nar. -d Barr was fined £5 and costs for acting as any chivalrous man would have done in response to a woman's call for “ Help.” It is very evident that tho man did not know all the circumstances surrounding him ; for wnile Ids actions would have led anyone to believe that he was quite responsible. ho pleaded guilty to a charge ol obstructing a constable in tho execution of his duty. It seems to me that justice has not been done, and an unfair advantage has been taken of the man’s condition, for them are persons who, had they known that legal proceedings were to be taken, would have appeared as witnesses to support the accused. Passers by the produce store mentioned iti the case heard a. window broken and a woman's call for “ Help.” Tho door was padlocked from the outside, and a response to knocks asking for admission being refused the door was forced bv those who answered tho call. The evid'ence baldly stated the fact that two girls and two men were inside the loclced building. Who padlocked the door from the outside? To those who saw all the proceedings and heard tho call for “Help” the man who was fined ia to be much more respected than those wlk> were responsible for what! occurred. You are at liberty to give my name to any inquirers who desire information for bona, fide purposes. I know tho accused to bear a good character.—l urn, etc.. Equity. December 4. [Tho evidence given in court was clear that the accused was under the influence of drink. He did not- give evidence on his own behalf, aud simply said that he did not remember anything of what had happened. He brought his punishment on himself.—Ed. E.S.]