GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1919, Page 2

GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22.

A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held .this morning before Messrs H. C. Harley and A. Naylor, J.IVs the former presiding. / DRUNKENNESS, i '. • Daniel Toel, Rewanui, was charged with being- found in a state of helpless drunkenness in Johnson Street on Saturday, December 20th Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant Simpson said defendant was found lying & the gutter in a helpless condition, a out on his lip necessitating medical, attention. \ 'The Bench entered a conviction and ordered defendant to pay the medical expenses.

David Carroll, Rewanui, charged with being drunk in Mackay Street on December 20th,, (was convicted and fined 10/-, a week being allowed iD which to pay the money. ■ DISORDERLY CONDUCT. . -John Walker was charged with behaving in a % disorde'rl manner whilst drunk in a railway carriage between Ot'ra and Greymouth, on Desember 20th; also that on the same date he did wilfully kreak the glass of a railway carriage,) the property of the New Zealand Government.

Constable Carroll, (Stafford) who arrested accused, said he was a passenger on the train to Greymouth. After leaving Moana -accused started to argue with some of the passengers one of the topics being the 'fdefinition of "Democracy." His first opponent was a young lad; but tiring* of him he forced his. attentions upon an older member of the masculine sex. He did not receive too good a hearing and was told to get. out cf the carriage or he would be put out. Accused took exception to this threat and shaped up in a defiant attitude. A rough and tumble followed, during which accused put his foot through the carriage window. Witness approached accused and told him he was a police constable. This cooled him down for a while, but later he again became resolve and had to be held in check until the train reached Greymouth. There were a number of women in the carriage and the language used by accused was not at all eddifying. Accused pleaded guilty to the .charge of drunkenness, but disclaimed any knowledge of what happened in the carriage. In a statement to the Bench he said returning to Greymouth in search of work, l»tx medium of the Repatriation Board. The journey was a cold one, .and in order to obtain some warmth .accused had one or two whiskies. He met a few "cobbers" and this led to a few more He had not liafl any drink lor a week and had been endeavouring to break it off. If the police looked up his reb>rd they would see it was a clean one whilst he was sober.

The chairman said the Bench was of the opinion that such lawlessness should be put down, and in view of accused's behaviour in the presence of Avomen and children a fine of £5 would be inflicted, in default thr*e weeks' imprisonment. Accused would also have to pay the cost of the brpken window. •

On accused's own application a proV.bition order was issued against him.