YULETIDE YAPPINGS

NZ Truth, Issue 551, 8 January 1916, Page 2

YULETIDE YAPPINGS

Stotish and Strappings

White Wails that He was Winged by a "Dead Marine"

Are the Tuam-street Warriors Un-

beaten Champions?

(From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.)

In the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch the other day, Jays Pay Crowther and Matli ; eson were regaled with the story of a gory bottle battle which was waged m a city right-of-way during the dying stages of Christmas Eve, which resulted In a decent- looking young man named Andrew Smith being charged with having assaulted Thomas William. White and caused him actual bodily harm.

Sub-Inspector Hastie prosecuted

Lawyer Cassidy appeared on behalf of the accused, who pleaded not guilty.

George White, a doughpuncher by occupation, gave evidence to the effect that on Christinas Eve, about 11.20 p.m., he was with three "cobbers" m the right-of way between the City Hotel and Cafe- de Paris. He saw the accused m company with a couple of men. Smith

WAS HAVING A BOOZE

out of a bottle, and, as White and his companions were passing, they all wished Smith and Co. a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. yhite was standing near Smith, when he dropped a shilling and, as he was stooping to pick it up, Smith claimed it. White reckoned it was his own '*roberto" and Smith said "Give me my shilling!" White stood on his "dig." and when Smith again claimed the money, White called him a liar. Then the real fun started. Smith raised his bottle and swiped White across the "boko" and, as the smitten one collapsed, he heard Smith call out something to the other members of the party. White was confident that he gave Smith no provocation other than calling him "a liar."

Mr. Cassldy: Do you live m Tuamstreet? — No. Some of my mates do.

Are they known as the "Tuam-streot champions" or the "Tuam-street warriors"? — Not to my knowledge.

Did they tell anyone m the right-of-way that they' were the "Tuam-street champions, who had never been beaten"? — No.

How many drinks did you have that evening? — Two or three. I'd only just knocked off work.

Did one of your mates bump one of Smith's mates? — I don't know. I didn't see it done.

Did one of Smith's party say to your crowd, "Go away, we're not looking Cor trouble, we want to catch our car" ? — Yes, after we bad been there some time. And did Smith aßk, "Are you the Tuam-street crowd who assaulted me a couple of years ago"? — Yes. Did you tell Smith he was a ■ liar? — No, I just called htm a plain liar, | and then ho hit me. Pid you strike Smith at all?— No. Who did?— l don't know. Isn't it a fact that Smith hit you "with his fist and that because your glasses cut your nose you thought he used a bottle? — No; he hit me with a bottle. Smith did not run away after be hit you? — I don't know. I remembered nothing more until I was at the police station., DJd you argue with another crowd m the right-of-way? — No.

Do you usually knock about with

THE TUAM-STREET CROWD? — I did during Christmas week. Aren't they pretty notorious?— Not to my knowledge.

Your crowd spoke first, didn't they? —Yes.

Bob Telfer, residing m Tuam-street, corroborated the evident of <be last witness and added that after Sn.lth banged White with tho botUe, ne turned to witness and asked if anyone else wanted the dream dope.

Hector King, also residing m Toaststreet, told a similar story of the pleasantries.

Mr. Cassldy: At tho start of the affair, didn't one of the accused's mates say, "Go on home -we're not looking for trouble"? — No.

Had you any liquor that night? — No, not a drop.

Did you Bco anyone hit the accused In tho face? — No; ho wasn't hit.

Arthur James Howard Alexander, living m Conference-street, dittoed the opening of the previous witness's narrative of events. Ho added that after striking White with the bottle, tho accused shied tho other half of tho bottle at one of White's pals.

To .Lawyer Caahidy: White was the only man m the mob who distributed Vuletlde greetings. Witness disclaimed association with the. Tuam-street "tigers."

Hits "Bobby" Bill O'Donohoe deposed to having lift th>* scene of uethitie.i In the right-of-way at n.30 p.m. on ChriHtmas Kve. Th» i crowd was then emptying itwelf Into the street. White wn.H m I hi* riKht-of-Wivy and his "buko" was covered with blood. He took the constuble to tin- end of the lane, and. pointing to Smith, said "That man struck me with a bottle." Smith wbjj taken to tho police station, where he was charged with the present offence.

This concluded th» raise for the prosecution.

Mlsttloner Sinulll, one of t)>« Chrljstuhurch Court's liiHtiiuiions, jruve evldonco of thu excellent character borne by the accused.

The accused gave evidence on his own hook. Ho «ald that on Christum* Eve he enme to town with his wife, and loft her wh«n »he went ahopplnj;. About 11 o'clock he went Into the rljcht-of-way by tho Cafc-de-l'arls and »net his friends, Mcf.tormand and Woods. The trln met While's party further down the In n«*. nnd oni' <>f iheni khvi' .MoUorniomi a Hhovi*. .^f< -Ciorinund a^ki-d th« ob-Ktropi'roti-'t fellow to tools whore he \vn» Rolnu. i«n«l anutlxr of the parly said.

"WK'HK TliM TUAM-STHKKT W'AUHIOIUS. We're champion and have never boon beat on." Witness wild. "Then you're the mob who took to :n<-> about, two years ajfo." Someone called him (Smith) v Har and Mo hit him. Aecuued than struck n mnn who was wearing glansea. When witness was arrested and chnrsed at tho million. White said he hud been hit with a oottle. and uoeused replied that ho hadn't hni] a bottic In hl« hand that nisht V.*h«?n accused hit Whlt<\ the r^iti <f «h« i crowd melted tnvny and brought ihv police. Accused denied fjov.

in«r had v boil)** whll* m Lhe lave.

To tho Hub-Inftppowr: Until witnesa ntoi MctSormand and WoodH m the lan« ho hud not wm them thnt night. Ho wiut Kiirft there wuh no controversy over v shilling.

John McGormund gave evidence to the effect that Whlto'** eolU'UKtioH open> ■•d lioHtllltloH and paraded the Invincibility of the Tuajn-streei warriors.

Hill "Wood, unothor of Smith's allies, giivo evidence of a Htmilar nature. He heard WliUo eidl Smith a liar and huw him bimjr tho latter on tho jaw. Smith then delivered v utralght loft, which landed on White's '"boko," and upset bin equilibrium. "White wttu wearing spectactcH at ttu> time.

To the Hub-ItiHiiccior: Witness heard .lomcthlnßr on Id about a tthlillng, ulUioush ho could not dlHtinßUlsh the convorsutlon.

Tho ucciiscd'H pa kuvc evidence ooncerninK hl» »on'« good oharnctcr.

At thlH Mttißo the Hvnch decided to roriuco tho chiirKo to one of common nn.Mjiult. ii nd dcrtlt with tho enm* «uiijrnarlly. It w«« f-v!il«>nt to Hi" lU-nch that ncouHcd Htruok v Mow, and h« would, therefore )>•* r«»Mvlct«'d and flm»d tOe and oohlm.

A »on.ic of Iminor In lJ»u whlirh make* v nuui InttKh ac Hntnothinß (lint Ititppnix to Homebody olrut that wovtM rnako the laugher nn«ry If it Impt^nftd to him.