"INDECENT" WORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 14

"INDECENT" WORD

USE IN SIIAW PLAT DEFENDING COUNSEL'S PLEA P SHOP ASSAULT PROSECUTION "The word complained of in this case was introduced by Georgo Bernard Shaw in his famous play, 'Pygmalion.' It is not a bad word, and is now in everyday use." This comment was made by Mr. Aekins in the Police Court yesterday, when defending a married man, George O'Brien, on charges of using indecent language and assault. Accused pleaded guilty to both. Sub-Inspector Pender said accused assaulted a floor walker in the shoe department of a city store on Friday night, September 22. He shook complainant by tho lapels of his coat, shouting in a loud voico, and using indecent language which was heard in other parts of the shop. The charge alleged that he called complainant a Nazi spy. . ... Air. Aekins said accused's wife bought two pairs of children's sandshoes in the shop in the afternoon, and while a salesman was writing out a credit slip lie passed a remark which, counsel' said, so upset her that she went home to her husband in tears. "One can understand his feelings," counsel continued, "although perhaps ho did go too far in attempting to repay the gross insult to his wife." Counsel submitted that the assault was of a very minor nature, and that it was unfortunate that the victim was in no way responsible for the'salesman's insult. If tho salesman had said the same thing to a man, counsel said, he woidd have quite merited a punch on the jaw. Accused was the father of two children, and had never been in trouble before. "It was a wild and stupid act," said tho magistrate, Air. J. Morling. "Accused let "his temper get the better of him. Ho does not seem to be a vicious typo of man, yet he attacked a man against whom ho had no grudge at all." On tho charge of assault, accused was fined £2, and on the other charge he was convicted and ordered to paj' costs totalling £1 10s.