“DON’T BE CHEEKY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1928, Page 12

“DON’T BE CHEEKY”

AN ANGRY MAGISTRATE (Special to "Star.”' CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 7. Incensed because he was invited very firmly to leave the Returned Soldiers’ Club, Donald Lloyd Townsend expressed his feelings by tearing down a signboard. To-day. at the Magistrate’s Court, be declared that he simply fell over the signpost. He annoyed Mr. E. D. Mosley S.M., by declaring that, if the Magistrate paid his fare Home he would get out of it. Townsend was charged with his second offence of drunkenness in six months at the Returned Soldiers’ Club, and with damaging a signboard by committing damage to the extent of £l. He pleaded guilty to drunkenness but denied the second charge.

Sub-Inspector J. Fitzpatrick said that Townsend was ejected from the Returned Soldiers’ Club about 8 o’clock last evening because of his drunken condition. He was put out on the footpath, and he smashed the signboard bearing the sign “Jellicoe Hall.” James Laurenson, a clerk employed at the Returned Soldiers’ Club, and Eric Willcox, Secretary of the Club, corroborated the evidence. One of two constables who arrested Townsend said that Townsend told him he had fallen' against ' the post and knocked the signboard down, but that was impossible. “Do you say I knocked the post down?” asked accused. “I did not see you do it,” said the constable.

“No,” said accused. “Those who say I did it are perverters of the truth and liars, as a matter of fact.” Townsend elected to give evidence on his own behalf and told the Magistrate there was a social at the Club every Thursday evening, with a little beer. He was always there. He went last evening, and sat down. Two men tried to eject him, but they could not. “I was not found drunk,” he declared. “They sent for the police to come and get me.” “What about the post?” said the Magistrate. “I did not pull the post down deliberately. I fell over it. I have a big bruise on my knee now.” “Were you not drunk?” asked the Sub-Inspector. “No,” said Townsend, firmly. “I might have been a little inebriated. A definition of drunkenness has yet to be found.” “You are getting a list, are you not?” asked the Magistrate. “There is nothing criminal there. The police of Christchurch try to make a criminal of you.” “Oh, no,” said the Magistrate. “Yes,” said Townsend, failing to notice the danger signals in the Magistrate’s tone. “It’s the worst place in the world for that.” “Get out of it,” snapped the Magistrate. “You pay my passage Home, and I will get out of it,” declared Townsend, warmly. “Get out of the box at once. Don’t be cheeky,” ordered the Magistrate. Townsend was fined 20/-, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness, and was fined £2 and ordered to pay £1 damages on the mischief charge, in default 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.