ASSAULT AT A DANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 14

ASSAULT AT A DANCE.

YOUNG MEN IMPRISONED.

NO OPTION OF A FINE

" MEMBERS OF HOODLUM GANG,"

As a result of a disturbances at a dance at Ponsonby on Saturday evening two young men were charged iri (lie Police Court yesterday with disorderly behaviour and assault. Two charges of assault and one of disorderly behaviour worn preferred against Leslie John Walding, aged 20, a labourer, similar charges being preferred against John Siddins, alias Siddens, aged 19. a labourer, who was also charged with another assault on Juno 14. "This man was making himself particularly obnoxious to the others at the dance," said Sub-Inspector McCarthy, when Walding's case was taken. "His idea seems to be to go to a dance and annoy everyone there, finishing up with a fight." One of the men assaulted, Raymond Jamos Lynch, said ho was in charge of the dance. A young woman complained to him about accused, who, she said, was intoxicated. Witness spoke to him. and he agreed to go if the other man left. Later they returned, and the assaults took place. They struck him, and ho also saw them attack the caretaker.

The caretaker of the hall, Frank Daniel Eade, stated ho saw the accused strike Lynch, and ho intervened. "I asked him to leavo the hall, and ho hit me on tho side of tho jaw," he said. "His mate then hit mo ono the other side. I put tho two of them out and locked the door. They went to tho back of tho hall and wore drinking out of a bottlo with other men. I had to call tho polico to take them away."

Walding entered the witness-box, stating ho had been forced into the fight. In answer to Mr. McCarthy accused admitted that although ho was only 20 he had 16 previous convictions, some of them for assault. lie denied he was the leader of a gang of hoodlums, and that he had said ho would fight the police. Siddins was then charged with assaulting Lynch and Eado, with disorderly behaviour and also with assaulting Richard Francis Sorenson at a skating rink on June 14.

Mr. McCarthy said that Siddins' case was worse than the previous one. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt,: We have had them both here before.

"I havo been informed that they belong to a gang of hoodlums which has created considerable trouble to the people of Nowton," said Mr. McCarthy. "They have been cautioned and cautioned about their behaviour." "Thoy will bo sentenced to one month's imprisonment each," said tho magistrate. Ono of tho Accused : No fine ? Tho Magistrate: No. Next time you are hero you will get six months' imprisonment.