POLICE COURT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 115, 18 May 1906, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR

AN EXPENSIVE LAPSE

In the ■ Police Court this morning, before Mr T. Scott-Smith, S.M., Dim-< can Campbell, batcher, of Tua Marina, appeared on a charge qf having, on the 17th May, unlawfully and wilfully destroyed one plate-glass ' window, the property of the Bank of New Zealand (the shop being opcnp.ied by Geo. Patchett, hairdresser), of the value of £15.

Accused pleaded guilty, but alleged provocation. Campbell was further charged with, as a consequence of the first offence, breaking several articles which were in the window, of the value of £1 10s, the property of Geo. Patchett. He, of course- ,again pleaded guilty. Sergt.-Major Mason, for the police, explained that accused, -who lived at ■Tua Marina, took peculiar mental "turns" sometimes. Yesterday he made an attempt, because of some imaginary grievance,' to strike Mr \ Patchett when in front of the latter's [hairdresser's .shop .in Market Street. •Mr Patchett stepped out of the way, 'and accused put his fist through the ■window' instead, cutting his hand somewhat in doing so. The window was completely smashed, and falling pieces of glass hatPdone damage to articles within, which necessitated the second charge. When Constable Carmody had arrested Campbell and 1 charged him, accused had made some statement about Mr Patchett having clipped his beard off." , George Patchett, hairdresser, said the: first intimation he had "of anything being amiss was the receipt of a letter, unsigned, but bearing the Tua Marina ' postmark, dated 3rd October, 1905. Accused had been in the shop on the previous Saturday night, having had his beard trimmed. The letter was a most scurrilous thing, such as he had never thought accused would be the man to write. When the beard was . clipped Campbell had gone away quite ' satisfied.

Accused, who had been interjecting to the effect that ifc was a shabby.trick to cut his beard off, and that if witness had been an enemy of his he would not have cared so much, but he had gone to him -as a friend, was directed to keep quiet until the witness had finished.

Witness, continuing, said he had been in business for many years, and claimed to know how to clip a beard. Moreover, it was not a custom of his to play "larks" on his customers. Accused had passed him in town the other day, when witness had said, " Good day, Duncan," having knoAvn him for many years; but he received ,'no answer. Yesterday, while talking iwith ~spm,e.. friends outside his, shop, Campbell came along. Witness, noticing him clench his first, stepped inside, and accused put his hand through the window.

In reply to the accused, Avitncss said he did not cut his Avhiskers off.

Campbell—" You cruelled me, cold AA-oather and all-.- He called me a madman yesterday."

Witness denied this. He said defendant's language Avas very abusive.

Constable Carmody deposed to charging accused Avith the offence. Campbell used a dirty expression in regard to Mr Patchett, and said he had cut his Avhiskers off.

Campbell—" Your worship, I think Avhen he cut my AA'hiskers off lie AA'as as much to blame as I AA-as, and you should look OA^er it. I have knoAvn him from a boy."

While the next witness, Mr E. Freeth, Avas assessing the damages at £15, accused Avas revolving upon his heel in the box, humming nonchalantly, and contemplating the large body of auditors in the Court.

The Magistrate convicted and fined Campbell £10 on each information, and ordered""him to pay the costs and damages.

While the Magistrate Avas making up his mind as to the sentence, accused turned in the box and muttered to Mr Patchett: "1 Avill see you yet walking the streets of Blenheim wheeling a barroAV of bricks.

Mr Patchett called his Worship's attention to the remark.

The Magistrate Avarned Campbell that he Avould send him straight to gaol for contempt of Court if he said such a thing. He did not know, on second consideration, whether it would not be better to send the man to gaol, or, perhaps, adjourn the case for a medical examination.

On the representation of the Sergt.Major, who said the man was well known and in good circumstances, and only occasionally liable to such outbreaks, his Worship agreed to fine accused £10-on the first charge, and .£5 on the second, with costs, the total being £33 15s.

Mr S. Tapp guaranteed the amount, and accused was dismissed,