Beard Hater's Trial

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5618, 6 April 1931, Page 12

Beard Hater's Trial

A MAN’S STRANGE PREJUDICE. PARIS, Jan. 28. Certain considerations concerning beards have just occupied the attention of the Paris Chamber of Correctional Appeals. The appellant was M. Monies, who, the Court was informed, was a peaceful and even-tempered individual in ordinary circumstances. The sight of a beard was to him, however, as a red rag to a bull. Last July, when he visited a theatre in Paris a dispute occurred at the boxolhee over the amount he had to pay on a privilege ticket. An official intervened with a courteous explanation. He was a mild and perfectly reasonable person, but in the eyes of M. Morllec he was hateful because he wore a fine, long beard—and M. Morllec pulled it. This episode caused him to be condemned by the Correctional Court iro 15 days’ imprisonment, with the benefit of the First Offenders’ Act. It was against this sentence that fie appealed. He may now have a little more toler-* ance for beards. Although the presiding judge of the Appeal Court was equipped with one, he proved his perfect impartiality and tolerance by reducing the sentence to eight days’ imprisonment, still with the benefit of the First Offenders’ Act.