BOXING NIGHT FIGHT ON STREET CORNER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6802, 4 January 1929, Page 8

BOXING NIGHT FIGHT ON STREET CORNER

FRACAS IN WELLINGTON. ONE-ARMED MAN IS SET ON .. BY THREE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 3. Following a disgraceful fracas which originated through tho drunken condition of some of the participants, Matthew Babich, restaurant-keeper, aged 63; Stephen Bresanella, chef, aged 33; John Thorpe, a labourer, aged 57; and Annie Marie Babich were to-day charged with fighting in a public place. Tho affair took place at the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets on Boxing evening. For Thorpe, it was stated that he was not one of the party, but had found himself being belaboured. As he was sober and one-armed, the magistrate took the view it was not likely that ho attacked the people, and gave him the benefit of tho doubt, dismissing the charge against him. Matthew Babich was further charged with committing mischief by damaging a cell utensil valued at 11s Gd, and an electric light globe valued at 4s Gd; Brcsenella with damaging a cell utensil and Mrs Babich with disorderly behaviour while drunk. The police oiideuuc showed that there had been a scone when the arrests were made and, after being placed in the cells, the two men had started throwing the utensils around. They w'orc each fined £2 or fourteen days for fighting and £1 for mischief end ordered, to make good the dam-

age, in default fourteen and ten, days’ gaol respectively. Mrs Babich was fined £2 or fourteen days’ gaol for behaving in a disorderly manner w r hilc drunk. The charge of fighting was withdrawn. The magistrate regarded B-resenella and Mrs Babich as responsible for the occurrence. The manner in w'hieh they behaved at tho police station, he *sl d, proved that they were drunk.