Disturbance at Dance

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 2

Disturbance at Dance

TWO MEN BEFORE COURT ( Clarence William Dinnan and Sidney Joseph O’Donnell appeared in Court yesterday morning before Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., charged with being drunk and disorderly. A further charge of resisting the police was preferred against . O ’Donnell and a charge of inviting O’Donnell to resist was preferred I against Dinnan. Both pleaded guilty and expressed regret for their action, j Constable Prussing who effected the I arrest after some difficulty told the Court that obscene language had been ! used within the public hearing but he had been unable to pin it down to any one of the pair. The police stated that the pair tried to gain admission to a Church anniversary dance in the Foresters' Hall, but were told they were not wanted. The constable, being on hand, said he had advised them to go away home, but they returned later and were

again advised to leave. However they returned a third time when O’Donnell became abusive and was arrested. * He resisted strongly but was overpowered. During this arrest Dinnan, who was also in a drunken condition, was inciting O ’Donnell to,make it hot ’ ’ for Witness. He attempted to strike the constable, but .was prevented by bystanders. After the first man had be6n locked up the constable returned and arrested Dinnan.

The Magistrate took a serious view of the offence pointing out that it was a grave offence to resist and incite arrest in view of which both parties would be convicted and fined £2 each on the first charge and £3 on the second.