“VERY MUCH SURPRISED"

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11738, 28 January 1924, Page 4

“VERY MUCH SURPRISED"

USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE. DEFENDANTS 'REMEMBER NOTHING.” Florence Turner and Michael Inpin6ki, were charged at the Police Court on ' Saturday, with drankenees and with using obscene language on a tramcar. Both cases were taken together. When the charge was read out to the female accused she was very taken aback. “I am very much Surprised that 1 should be charged with using such language” she declared, but was cut short in her expostulations by the clerk of the court who proceeded to read the charge. According to Senior-Sergeant Lander, the accused while in a drunken condition bo*rded an Island Bay car in Cburtenay Place. Previous to that they accosted a civilian in Courtenay Place, and followed him on to the tramcar. The language complained of was then used in the oar which was crowded with people. Evidence was given by a seaman, who said he was spoken to by the male accused outside a hotel in Courtenay Place. The accused who was with Turner at the time, asked witness if he bad iny drink on him. and witness produced a small whiskey flask and gave him a drink. Witness then boarded a car, but the two accused followed him and used the language in his hearing. “I never used that language in my life, did I?” said Lipinski, turning appealingly to the other accused who emphatically said he did not. The Magistrate: Any questions to ask the witness? Female accused: No thank you, your worship, I will leave it to you. After the evidence of a tram conductor and a constable had been taken, his worship (Mr C. R. Orr-Walker), fined each of the accused 56, in default 24 houns’ imprisonment, and Lipinski seven days imprisonment on a charge of using obscene language. Turner was fined £3, in default seven days imprisonment on the second charge. ‘‘Can I have time to pay, your worship?” asked the female accused.” On the matter of time Senior-Ser-feant Lander did not think it advisa» le, as she was a woman of none too good a character, and had no settled place of abode. Time was, therefore, not allowed.