CONDUCTOR ASSAULTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 23

CONDUCTOR ASSAULTED

INCIDENT ON TRAMCAR PASSENGER FINED BY COURT As a sequel to an incident on a Point Chevalier tram on Coronation night, an unemployed labourer, Albert Stanley Lye, aged 24 (Mr. Aekins), appeared on summons in tho Police Court yesterday, charged with assaulting a tram conductor, Robert McLaughton. Defendant pleaded not guilty. "Tho (lefcnco is a most remarkable ono," said tho magistrate, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, after hearing the evidence. "Apparently without any. semblance of aggravation, tho conductor took it upon himself to kick a young man on tho shins and then to striko a blow at defendant, who in solf-defenco struck back a severe blow on tho conductor's mouth. "I am not satisfied at all that there was no aggravation or that there was any question of self-defence on tho part of defendant," tho magistrate continued. "It is plain that there was somo disturbance on tho tram, giving trouble to tho conductor, who had to speak to defendant and several of his friends. "Tho conductor may have been a little annoyed with defendant, but that was no excuso for an unjustifiable assault on a public official in uniform, which makes the matter a more serious one. Defendant ought to learn to behave himself in a public place."

Defendant was fined £4 and cost 1 * £1 12s.