DREADFUL DOUGLAS.

NZ Truth, Issue 328, 7 October 1911, Page 7

DREADFUL DOUGLAS.

BREAKING UP A 'OME.

Joj fal Jones Street.

[From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.]

Neil Douglas, a grey-haired party, blew along- to see an old friend pf his, one Ka.te McLean, who dwells m Jones-street, Dunedin. on Saturday last. it must have he.-ii t through the sun or the wind or something, because soon after Neil arrived at his lady friend's place he started BREAKING- UP THE 'APPY 'OME with great Enthusiasm. Kate must have reckoned that an earthquake had struck the place, as Neil had disturbed things s», but i-nyway Neil's playful franks were too much: for her, so she sent .for the police, and a large "John" emptied Neil out on to the street and then collected him on a charge of beer. Neil duly came up before Mr Widdowson, S.M., on Tuesday last, and. and was asked to explain a charge of beer and damaging Kate's household goods to the tune of £1 14s Bd. When the charge "drunk m a public place" was read Neil remarked to tie court : "It was not m a public place," and Lawyer Hawkins explained that he was appearing for Neil, and that Neil would plead not guilty. Constable S. (J. Hall said that fet 5.30 p.m. he went along to the McLean mansion with Sergeant Matthews and found all the bedding on the life or, crockery smashed, and furniture broken as if a bomb had burst there." He went upstairs and found the noble Neil m bed m a stupefied state. He emptied Neil out on to the footpath ; and, as ne couldn't stand, arrested him. Later on he went up once more to the peaceful 'ome to hear what the lady had to say, and took another constable along with hini, as he had heard of the relationship between Neil and the lady, and was afraid she would go hack on her word. To Mr Hb wkins : When Neil was emptied out he was mad drunk. The lady had made out the list of damages herself. Sub-Inspector Cruickshanks explained that Sergeant Matthewscouldn't b e present on account of a death m his family. It was then discovered that, the lady's son was not m the court to give evidence as requested, and the Pub. said tbat he had seen the son m the court earlier talking to his mother, but evidently SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED SINCE. Lawyer Hawkins contended that the police had not endeavored to6ee whether Neil was swanked when .they got him out on to the street. ,'• The S.M. agreed that the question of reasonable time elapsing between the time he was put out and the time he was arrested entered largely into the matter. ' The Sub-Inspector contended , that the evidence showed that Neil couldn't stand when he was emptied out: 1 There was a question of principle involved, so he would ask for a remand on the charge of drunkenness. Sergeant Matthews would be able to be present the following day. He would go on with the wilful damage charge. ./The S.M. agreed to that. ' I^ate McLean, said that Neil blew into the 'appy 'ome m a dtfunken condition, and "seemed to hiA, out of his mind." It was only throughthe drink, and she would withdraw all the rest. Neil started to - smash the furniture and throw things about, and damaged the 'ome to the time of £l 14s 3d. Neil was an old -friend of her husband's, and on previous visits had always been quiet. ►She was excited when she sent for the police. Neil had only got a quarter of an hour's work m then. She was not a widow, but was LIVING APART FROM HUBBY. She was afraid of Neil, and fEatwas why she sent" for the police. To Mr Hawkins : Douglas didn't attempt to strike her. He was able to walk about the house all right, and was quite capable of looking after himself m the street. The S.M. :_• He doesn't seem to have been able to look after himself m the house. Mr Hawkins : Probably the sight of the furniture sent him off, there are some people like that. Kate (with conviction) : Yes, there are some people who are drunk and don't show it, and they go mad. Concluding, the lady said she didn't claim any damages. Lawyer Hawkins explained that Douglas had been a boarder off and on for five years. The S.M. fined Neil 10a, and ordered him to pay the damage £.1 14s 3d, m default seven days' imprisonment. Douglas came before the S.M. on Wednesday to answer the charge of drunkenness. Sergeant Matthews said he went with Constable Hall and assisted to empty Douglas out. Douglas was decidedly drunk. He did not see Douglas arrested. Constable Dunford, of the watchhouse., said that when Douglas was brought m he fell twice and was to the cells. He was absolutely unable to take care of bimseol. " The Magistrate thought thafr Douglas was drunk, but as he had leaned the previous day he would be convicted and discharged.