ENTERTAINMENT DISTURBED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 September 1926, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENT DISTURBED.

FRACAS AT TAWHITI

SEQUEL IN COURT

A fracas which occurred at a dance held in the Tawhiti hall on the evening of September 3 resulted in the appearance before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court at Hawera this morning, of Leonard Allan Greenbank to answer charges of creating a disturbance and of using, obscene language. Defendant, who is 20 years of age, pleaded guilty 1 to both charges. The case was conducted by Sergeant Henry, who stated that defendant had apparently objected to another man having danced with a certain partner, and had invited him into the cloak room. There a scuffle had ensued, with the result that defendant had been thrown to the floor. He had then used the obscene language mentioned in the charge. It was stated that defendant was not sober at the time, but as the sergeant had seen him in High Street in ax perfectly sobei* condition during the“^eveiling, any liquor he had consumed must have been received at the dance. The sergeant ‘remarked upon the amount of drinking which went on at country dances, practice which was regrettable, but difficult to check. Mr. F. C. Sprat*, who appeared for defendant, explained that he had not taken any liquor to the dance, and any he consumed was obtained at the hall. Defendant would admit that he had consumed a certain amount, and anything he had done could be attributed to its influence. There was no suggestion, however, that the liquor was supplied by the dance committee. It- appeared to have been brough t in by 'outsiders. Defendant was acutely conscious of the seriousness of the position and had consented to a. prohibition order being taken out against him. “It is deplorable that so many young men of the Dominion feel it incumbent on themselves to take out piohibition orders,” said the Magistrate in summing up the case. “In view of the facts,” he added. “I feel inclined to see if you can work out your own salvation, and I am going to convict you and order you to come up for sentence wlien called upon.” . Defendant was accordingly convicted and ordered to come no for sentence if called upon within" six months.