“KNICK KNOCK.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 July 1926, Page 9

“KNICK KNOCK.”

alleged wanton disturbance

OKAIAWA YOUTHS’ PRANK. An indulgence' in the youthful practice. of “lunch-knocking,’' until its consequent annoyance to K a spar Reichmnth, a. Swiss residing alone in a small hou.se on his farm on the Nor-manDy-Ukaiaua Road, resulted in charges of wanton disturbance being preferred against Alfred \\ aldion, rarm labourer, 24- years of age, Robert C. R Gardiner, faun hand (ai), Archibald W. Newman, baker’s assistant (2(J), Albert A\ . Tiplady, labourer (20), and Leslie Relf, farm labourer (16), in the Magistrate’s Court at Hawera this morning. The case was heard by Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M. As explained by Sergeant Henry, the alleged offences had taken place on two eceilings, Newman, Gardiner, Tiplady, and Relf being involved on the evening of June 23, while Waldron, Gardiner, and Tiplady were charged in respect to similar occurrences on June 26. Complaint had been made by Reichnuith on Sunday, 27th tilt., to the effect that someone had been annoying him on the previous evening, and as 1 the result the five defendants had admitted being implicated in playing “knick-knock” at the house. Pieces of. iron had been tied to the door knob and manipulated from the roadway by pulling a long string, the knocking noise produced having caused the disturbance complained of. On the first evening the practice had commenced about 8.45 p.m. and continued for a quarter of an hour, and on June 26 the hammering had taken place about 9 p.m. Heavy objects had also been thrown on to the house, and four window panes had been broken. Only two of the defendants, Newman and Relf, made an appearance. Both pleaded guilty and endeavoured to explain the matter away as having been a joke. Constable Pidgeon, asked concerning the character of the two defendants before the court, said that they were not the ringleaders in the mischief. The other defendants had informed the constable that they would appear in court

“I’ll put this in your favour. There is nothing against you and you have kept your promise to appear in court. You will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon,” said the Magistrate,, in concluding some terse advice concerning their obligations to refrain from disturbing others. He further intimated that if their behaviour remained satisfactory until the end of the year the charges would probably he dismissed. The charges against the other three defendants were adjourned until the next sitting of the court.