SERIES OF CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20842, 8 April 1931, Page 11

SERIES OF CHARGES.

ENGINEER'S OFFENCES. MISCHIEF AND BAD LANGUAGE. Described as an engineer, William John Darlington Moulden, aged 30 (Mr. Aekins), was charged in the Police Court yesterday with obtaining credit by fraud by incurring a debt of 2s 6d for a meal, with committing mischief by wilfully damaging a curtain valued at 10s, and with behaving in a disorderly manner and using obscene language in a public place. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge, but admitted the other counts.

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that on Monday evening accused went to tearooms in Ivarangahape Road and refused to pay for his meal. He walked out of the restaurant, but later returned and wilfully damaged a curtain. The language used by accused at the time was most obscene.

"Accused was particularly drunk and does not remember anything about it," said counsel. "He has never been in trouble before and when arrested he had sufficient money in his possession to pay for the meal."

The magistrate, Mr. E. C. Gotten, fined Moulden £2, and costs £2, for using obscene language, default, being fixed at seven days' imprisonment. On the mischief charge he was ordered to make good the damage, in default 24 hours' imprisonment, a conviction without penalty being recorded on (he disorderly behaviour charge. The remaining count was dismissed. 'Accused was allowed 14 days in which to pay.