THE WRONG HOUSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 8

THE WRONG HOUSE.

SHAREBROKER’S LAPSE. A CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENT. (Peb United Phebs Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. May 30. A stranger who made a mistake in regard to his lodging house caused consternation in one household on Friday. The story was told in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, when Arthur Smaill Johnston sharebroker, aged 54 years, was chawed with having been found drunk in Hereford street, and with wilfully trespassing in the dwelling house of Charles Overton, of 24 Hereford street, and refusing to leave the premises after being warned to do so.

Johnston pleaded guilty. Senior Sergeant Martin said that Johnston was staying at St. Elmo. He went to Overton’s' place and refused to leave. He was escorted out, but returned whilst the occupants were in some other part of the house when he went upstairs and got into bed. About a quarter to five he was found in bed apparently quite happy and contented. Mrs Overton went upstairs and naturally got a great shock. The Magistrate, Mr H Y. Widdowson, inquired if all this was the result of drunkenness. The Senior Sergeant: Mostly all. Mr Cracrqft Wilson said that there was a certain amount of humour in it. The Magistrate: Not for the lady. Counsel asked if the magistrate could suppress accused’s name “I suppose, l he said, “that the whisky is stronger than in Dunedin.” The Magistrate: These are things they should think of before they take liquor. If that plea were to hold what would happen? On the first charge accused was. fined 10s, in default 24 hours, and on the second £3 in default 10 days. Mr Cracroft Wilson : What about the suppresssion of his name? The Magistrate: I’ll leave that m the hands of the press itself.