Liquor On Train And At Dance Leads To Fines

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 2

Liquor On Train And At Dance Leads To Fines

The possession of bottles of beer on a train and in a' dance hall at Greymouth proved expensive for two men who were charged in the Police Court at Greymouth today, before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M. Louis Saunders, of Stewart’s Gully, Canterbury, was charged with being found in possession of two bottles of ale on a railway train at Greymouth, the liquor being intended for consumption on the train. The defendant did not appear.. Constable JI De Goldi said he was on duty at the railway station when he saw the defendant with two bottles of ale in a railway carriage. On being approached, the defendant said that he “was going to shout for his cobbers.” The defendant was fined £3 with 10s costs and an order was made for confiscation of the two bottles of beer seized by the constable. Alexander Scalmer,- of Cobden, was charged with having a bottle of beer in his control, in the vicinity of the Lyceum Hall when a dance was being held on September 17. The defendant who was fined £2 (costs 10s), had had a bottle of beer in a coat pocket while inside the hall, it was stated. Three men found in the Buck’s Head Hotel, Brunner at 1.45 a.m. on September 4, were fined 10s (10s costs)• A similar fine was imposed on three men found on the Commercial Hotel at 10.5 p.m. on September 20.

Obscene Language ■ David Fleming Greig, of Westport, 'was charged with using obscene language on the Greymouth railway station on September 12. Although the offence is indictable, •the Court agreed to accept an “election” and plea from Mr W. D. Tayloi’, who stated that he had been instructed by telephone to enter a plea of •guilty on behalf of the defendant. Senior-sergeant R. C. Mcßobie said that the defendant was a grocer residing at Westport and on the date of the information he went to the Greymouth railway station with the intention of boarding the railcar. The foreman saw that he was carrying loose bottles of beer and told him that he would not be allowed to go on the car with the beer. The defendant then became abusive and used the language which was the basis of the Char^e ’ xt. X XU “My instructions are that the offence was due to liquor and that the defendant genuinely regrets his action,” said Mr Taylor. The defendant was fined £5, with 10s costs. George Patrick. Curtain and John Joseph Thomas Sheahan were both charged with using obscene language in Guinness street, Greymouth, on September 17. There was no appearance of Curtain and the Magistrate pointed out that he had to appear to make his “election” on an indictable charge. The case would be stood down in the meantime. If the defendant could be found he (the magistrate) would be prepared to deal with him later in the day. If hot a warrant would have to be issued.

Later, Senior-sergeant R. C. McRobie informed the Court that there had been a misunderstanding on the part of the defendant and that he would appear at 4.30 this afternoon. The other defendant, Sheahan, who was represented by Mr W. D. Taylor, elected to be dealt with summarily and entered a plea of guilty. The Senior-sergeant said that the charge arose out of an argument which occurred at 1.5 a.m, outside the Lyceum Hall. The argument became somewhat heated. It was his first offence. Mr Taylor said that the defendant was 18 years of age. Curtain, who was also at the dance had taken umbrage when accidently knocked in the hall and had -wanted to fight the defendant. The defendant refused and Curtain used language, leading to the defendant’s use of the words complained of.

“No Justification”

“He may or may not have had provocation,” said the Magistrate. “Even if he did, that does not justify language of that sort in a public place. He will be fined £3, with 10s costs.” On a charge of casting offensive matter in Perotti Lane 'on September 18, John Purnell, who did not appear, was fined £2, with 10s costs.

Maintenance Cases

Appearing on remand, Hugo Sarto Patrick Joseph Mulloy, aged 46, mine labourer, of Taylorville, was charged with default under maintenance orders made at Blenheim in favour of his wife and five children, the arrears amounting to £6B. He was convicted and sentenced to one months imprisonment with hard labour, the warrant to be suspended so long as current maintenance is paid together with 5s a week off the arrears in each order. Foi’ the disobedience of a maintenance order, James Kevin Coster was convicted and fined £2. Charge Of Indecency

• “Although this type of offence cannot be condoned and although you had a previous conviction for an offence of a similar nature 20 years ago, I am prepared to give you an opportunity,” said the Magistrate in addressing James Nash, aged 44, single, a miner, who had pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act, with intent to insult or offend a girl aged eight years. The offence was alleged to have occurred on Omoto road on September. 18. Mr W. D. Taylor, who appeared for the accused, stressed that the accused had kept out of trouble for 21 years. He was Unable to offer any explana-/ tion for his action, but Mr Taylor suggested that the fact that the accused was not very bright mentally might offer some background. The Magistrate said he might take the view that the accused, was a menace or that, in a moment of weakness, he yielded to a sudden impulse. After what had been said on behalf of the accused, he was prepared to take the second view. The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years, if called upon, the Magistrate emphasising that the accused must clearly understand that he must control such impulses, as if he dffended again nothing would ,save him from a lengthy term in gaol.