HECTOR'S HOUR

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 7

HECTOR'S HOUR

He Found Gin Slings Too Potent (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) The day was gloriously fine for the Portobello regatta, but the air was blue when Hector James MeKenzie Manson, aged 26, a Dunedin City Council employee, hove-to after partaking too freely at the local hotel. LJECTOR, up till the present, has been a good boy, but his maiden performance m the "Gin Sling Stakes" cost him £5. After loading himself with the potent spirit, he set right m to throw his weight around; m fact, he was fighting- drunk. He handed his compliments to a lady m the vicinity, and when accosted by a constable, Hector told him exactly where all policemen originated and rounded this off with his version of the family history of certain members of the reigning house of England. Hector consequently spent a night m the Portobello gaol. During the night he became violent and broke the door of the cell, which cost him a further ten shillings. "This is simply a case of a young man with an absolutely unblemished, record making a fool of himself," pleaded Lawyer C. J. L. White, when Manson, the picture of humiliation, came before the court. Counsel added that Manson was not used to taking strong liquor and the overdose of gin had made him violent. Manson was fined £5 and ordered to make good the damage to the cell door.