EJECTED FROM LAUNDRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 13

EJECTED FROM LAUNDRY.

UNWELCOME ATTENTIONS TO GIRL. WELL-KNOWN SOLICITOR ASSAULTED. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 20. To be assaulted while protecting a woman in a laundry from the annoying attentions of a man was the experience of Mr A. W. Blair, a well-known Wellington solicitor, when he -cut into the Victoria laundry depot in Willis street just after 6 o'clock last night. As a result John James Spring, known professionally as “ Sbarpo,” a razor expert, faced Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day on a charge of assault. The accused, for whom Mr J. F. R. 'Wallace appeared, pleaded not guilty. Mr Blair, in evidence, said that when he went into the depot ho found Spring sitting on the counter leaning over in a familiar manner towards the girl attendant. In his right hand was a razor, and in his left a tin of tobacco. Witness inquired of the girl if she was being nnoyed. and she nodded, whereupon witness told Spring to get out, warning him at the same time that if ho did not he would be ejected. “ I gave him a sort of ‘ boar hug,’ I suppose you would call it,” added Mr Blair. " The accused then pounded nt the back of my head. When I got him out of the shop I throw him and held him until a policeman arrived.” To Sub-inspector Harvey: Ho did not tackle Spring until Spring had struck him. To Mr Wallace: It might have been out of nervousness that the girl had dropped her head. Spring jumped off the counter and threatened to kill him, or something to that effect. “Ho wouldn't have hit me if I had known that he was going to,” added the witness. — (Laughter.) Mr Wallace: Spring’s nose was bleeding by the time you got him outside, wasn’t it? No. Most of the contribution of blood was mine. The accused complained that the blood spoilt his suit, which cost £7. I did not complain, but mine cost more than that. — (Laughter.) In answer to Mr Wallace, Leah Mills, the laundry attendant, said that Spring was making a real nuisance of himself, and appeared to her to be drunk. Counsel: He was merely sharpening a razor? —Yes, and telling mo what a wonderful man he was. Constable Strawbridge, who made the arrest, said that the accused seemed to bo “ in a real fighting mood.” Mr Wallace said that Spring would say that he had been threatened by Mr Blair, and had therefore started the offensive. He was known professionally as “ Sbarpo,” and was demonstrating a razor at the lime. The defendant then went into the box. He said that he had gono into the depot to sec if Miss Mills had sold a hat for him, and that Mr Blair “butted in.’ Witness asked him when he meant by it, and tola him that there would be two hits—“lTl hit you, and you’ll hit the ground.” Spring added; “There was a bit of a spar, and I won. He had no right to butt in, and when ho put his hands on mo I said ; ‘ Lot go. be a bit of a rough house hero.’”— (Laughter.) To the Sub-inspector: Ho was not halfdrunk, though ho had had a couple of drinks. Counsel submitted that the accused s conduct had been perfectly harmless, and ho suggested that the information might be dismissed.

The Magistrate: I think the case is perfectly clear. Spring displayed a razor and terrified the girl. Mr Blair came in and remonstrated, and was assaulted. A fine of £5, in default 21 (lays’ impisonmont, was imposed.