A DRUNKEN BLACKGUARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16189, 26 September 1914, Page 4

A DRUNKEN BLACKGUARD

SENSATION IN A TRAIN. OFFENDER SEVERELY DEALT WITH. At tho Kaitangata Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Messrs A. E. Farquhar and P. Soilness, J.IVs, James Nelson Ferjrusion was charged with, whilst in possession of loaded firearms, boinpr guilty of disorderly conduct whilst drunk, breaking n window of ,a railway carriage, valued 10s, and using obscene language in a railway carriage of a train travelling between Milton and Stirling on the 24th inst. Constable Martin, in explaining the facts, said accused was practically a etrangcr. He was employed at the Taratu mine, and on the 24th inet. he went to Duncdin, procured some liquor, went to a shop and purchased a revolver and cartridges, and on tho way out he produced this to tho passengers, and thought he was facing the Germans, until one of tho " enemy" took the loaded revolver from him. There was quite a commotion on the train, passengers fleeing in every way possible. Bad language was used frequently and in the hearing of ladies. He asked that this behaviour be dealt -with by the bench in a way that would be a lesson to others. Evidence was given by W. R. Mechalis, 11. B. Stubbs, and J. Kirby, after which the magistrates decided to convict the defendant on the first charge and discharge him. For breaking the carriage window he was ordered to nay 10s damage, with an alternative of two weeks' in gaol. For obscene language he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour, concurrent with the previous term. The revolver and cartridges were ordered to be confiscated.