BELFAST BOYS.

NZ Truth, Issue 160, 11 July 1908, Page 6

BELFAST BOYS.

i WhatHappened At The Social. '■■■••'.■ ■-•-■■ / ■ ■■• ■ ■ ■■ $ . /■ .•• •■ • They have .highwjiDiks' sbmetimes^at Belfast, the place • where the lamb • and the hogget; ,and the toothless go to the slaughter for the -purpose of filling the, ''.'. Londoner's belly. ■ The local hall was the v scene:'of a fancy dress ball on June 26, .when three young. men named Sidney Blake; Simon McGraill, and James Barratt got full of Boup'.'and made'^beasts of themselyes. They ' were * subsequently charged' in Christchurch. S.M. Court with disturbing „ •an entertainment ; Barratt was accused of committing an assault, and Blake" was charged -with using obscene/language. Unfortunately, Barratt- departed for placfes "unknown beiore a summons could be served oh hini, and .the , police had to be content wftth the appear--ance pi Blaie and McGraill, for «whom. Solicitor. Donnelly appeared. . 'Bill Wright, doorkeeper at 'the social, stated that the-; obttoxlqus trio , came m just after 10 m ah inky condition; and passed through the door without paying.They were singing and carrying pn v m a manner attributable to^ beef, and: when . BKA.KE TOOK HIS TROUSERS OFF, 'there was considerable commotion m the hall, from whiclr the ladies fled m precipitation and their ball , dressesi The intruders' hprserplay. continued for a 'quarter of'an^hßuf amuse anybody worth^ mentioning. In reply to Mr Donnelly, Wright said that the assault -was committed by Barratt, now undiscoverable, who' appeared tp be the ring-leader. .The disturfbers had their face's blackened, this being some people's idea of fancy dress. „' .Magistrate Bishop : Did Blake gorinto the , hall with his "trousers off Yr-No, he took them off inside. _ _: V ■ Did he wear under-garments ? —^Yes. Mr Donnelly ?— Why didn't you ask the young men for their tickets ?— Well, there was a chance of betting* more than 1 asked for. . , j ..;.(. Sam Ferguson, -who was present, said the promoter of 'tthe. social was quite helpless , when appealed to. Ferguson said xit was. a shame that a function should? bb 'disturbed by ' thrge bawlers, a remark overheard^ by Barfatt, who delivered one on the point, and Ferguson knew no. niore for a while. ' ' .;. t '■'"''.-<.. Mr Donnelly .explained that the exuberance of his clients' was due to unaccustomed Krtiuof, and he pleaded for leniency. '. McGraill , was fined , 40s or one month for disturbing the ; ! function.. : -,:*".. . ; ; SidheyVßla^ce was then chargeft WtTH USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE m the gents' dressing-room, evidence being gjven by Wright and Jones to the effect that he had : hurled remarks like "Blank you !" and "You are a blanky lot of blanks '"into the surrounding atmosphere. A girl,' apparently about sixteen, named Ivy Belsie, said she was m the ladies'' dressing-rooom 'at the time and heard Blake ;make use of blushful expressions, which she. modestly wrote down on a piece of paper. There : was only,, a thin partition between fhe' ( ladies' and gents' dressing rooms. In' reply to Mr Donnelly, she denied, . with indignation, that she 'had listened at Hhe keyhole. Mr Donnelly pointed, 'out"* that' the expressions were used" m a private room, and his Worship was doubtful if the case, came under the section^ relating to a public place. He did^ not think the case was complete and dismissed the information, although. he was verytsonry. to do so. It was a horrible thing,- he commented, while imposing a fine of 40s- or one month on the charge pf disturbing the entertainment. ' "■-.' "■';'■"