ORDER OBJECTED TO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 1

ORDER OBJECTED TO.

ZEALOUS PROHIBITIONIST. DEPENDANT RAISES A STRONG PROTEST. BPBCIATj TO THE "TlirEa." \ CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. The rehearing of an application made by Magnus Badger, described as an "insurance agent" for a prohibition order against his lodger, Henry Nickells Hahn, resulted in some curious disclosures in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Tho order had been granted in defendant's absence at a previous sitting of the court, and Mr Oresson how appeared, to oppose the application. Magnus Badger stated that some two months ago his attention was drawn to? the state of defendant’s two children. He l visited the home and found it in a very dirty' condition. Defendant was slightly under the influence of liquor. Witness, suggested Hahn should give up his homo and his drinking habits, and come and live with witness, tho latter promising; to educate tho boys. The man was in constant work at Jl2 7s a week, and one boy earned 10s a week, which he gave to his father. A PROHIBITION "CRANK," On Saturday evening Haim becam/ abusive, and witness had to expel him. Mr Grosson: This man is a prohibition, "crank." Ho goes round entrapping people, and gets prohibition order® against them. Witness said that, on no less an authority than that of the Crown Prosecutor, he had it that he had done good work; in reforming drunkards. Continuing, Badger, ,in reply to Mr Grosson, stated that Hahn paid him 30» a week for board for himself and tho two boys during tho time tho elder boy was out of work; when that boy went to . work the charge was raised to 36s a week. EXCESSIVE DRINKING DENIED. , Mr Gresson pointed ont that this loft Hahn with 21s a week to spend. How could it bo said that by excessive drinking the man was "misspending, lessening, or wasting his estate"!' William Fisher, residing with Badger, was called by the latter, but proved more like a hostile witness. , In reply to a question as to how many times he had seen defendant under tho influence of liquor, Fisher said, ‘Tt all depends on what you call under the influence." He would say Hahn was a man who took it regularly and was of a very excitable temperament. Ho wav always able to go to work next morning at 6 o'clock. ’ Defendant stated that he was a native of Heligoland, and had worked for the City Council for thirteen years. He had a pint of beer when his work was over, but,had never been what ho called drunk. ■ ' 1 . THREATS OF PUBLICITY. In reply, to a question from Badger, as. to whether he frightened him with a threat that his name would get into Norton’s "Truth," Hahn stated that he said to Badger that ho was well known in town and did not want his name, published. Badger replied ."Well, you need not attend. If you do, it will make it harder for you, and it will go in Johnny Norton's ‘'Truth.'" -i The bench at this stage intimated that they did not wish.to hear further evidence.’ . They thought that Badger had gone out of his way to secure the order tho, previous day. There was not suflioient justification ' for granting the ap plication, and it would be dismissed.