ASKED IN BY HIS DANCING PARTNER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2307, 27 November 1925, Page 11

ASKED IN BY HIS DANCING PARTNER

AND ASKEft OUT BY THE LICENSEE. HITS OUT. AND GETS FINED FIVE POUNDS. Policemen hav e some unusual experiences, but it must have been a queer sight to Constable .Mouatt pacing his beat a 2.30 yesterday morn, ing, to be suddenly confronted by an elderly man 'whose right eye was rapidly closing, and whose face was streaming with blood. The gorey one was Alexander Char, tors Bradley, licensee of the Occidental Hotel, and ho had a tale to tell. “It appears that at about 2 o’clock yesterday morning he was awakened by the sound of voices in a nearby room of the hotel, and by the electric light therein being switched alter, nately on and off. He • went to investigate, and found a, young man of 21 years, named Leslie Robert Stuart Ricketts sprawling on the bed prar. tlcally undressed. On being asked for an account of himse’f, Ricketts replied that he was a boarder, but this whs scouted by Charters, who replied that the belated one had not booked up with him. However, said tile licensee, If Rlc. ketts cared to pay 6/- for bed and breakfast, he could stay. Ricketts objected that the tariff was too high—that ho was used to paying only 5/., and said he had been brought to the hotel by on G of th e waitresses, whom h 0 had met at a dance He proceeded to «use had language. Knocked Down in Own Doorway. Upon Ricketts refusing either to pay or leave, Bradley promptly went to the police station and laid a complaint, and was told a constable would be over immediately. Bradley returned to tlie hotel and made for the Fitaherbert street entrance, but the moment he set foot on the doorstep Ricketts, who was hiding in the alcove, struck him forcibly in the eye and “knocked him clean out.” When Bradley came to he confronted Constable Mouatt, as stated, and at four o'clock in the morning Ricketts was found at the Cafe de Paris hotel. Witen arraigned at the Palmerston North Police Court yesterday morning before Messrs. A. J. Graham and G. H. Espiner, J.’sP,, on a charge of assaulting Bradley, Ricketts admitted that he had struck Bradley, but in self-defence. Senior. Sergeant O’G'rady, who con. ducted the case for the police, outlined the facts, while Bradley gave the details. The latter said the girls at the hotel had no authority to bring friends to the hostelry. Accused had been particularly obnoxious and ob. jcctionablo. Constable Mouatt gave evidence, and said that when found at the other hotel, Ricketts at first denied the allegation, but later admitted having struck complainant. Accused had been drinking. Accused’s Story. In evidence, accused described how he had met a waitress of the hole! at a dance. She had asked him where he was staying, and asked him to come to the Occidental. When Bradley come in and asked him to pay, witness said the charge was exorbitant, and offered to pay 5/-. BradleJ attempted to strike witness, and ol course the latter retaliated. Witness had used bad language, as stated, but had later apologised to the lady in whose presence it was used. Witnesi proceeded to dress preparatory to tak. ing his leave. In reply to Senior. Sergeant O’Grady, accused said he did not know if it was in the room or In the street that he struck complainant. Witness had had no liquor. “It was a cowardly and unprovoked assault,” said the Senior-Sergeant. Accused was a barber on his own account at Shannon, and a recent arrival from England. Nothing else was known about him, as he had only been arrest, ed that morning. "It was a wanton and unprovoked | assault," said the Bench. "We do not believe your story. The complainant was quite within his rights to ask you to either pay or leave the the premises.” Ricketts was fined £5 and ordered fo pay medical expenses two guineas, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. Accused: May I have my name suppressed? Mr. Graham; Certainly not! Accused: I have a business that will be affected. Mr. Graham: Then it will be part o{ the punishment.