MAN IN A LOIN CLOTH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17844, 29 July 1932, Page 9

MAN IN A LOIN CLOTH

COMMITTED NO OFFENCE 1 MAGISTRATE’S DECISION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Charles Perrin, who appeared recently in Willis street clad only in a loin cloth and shoes, was declared by Air. 12. Page, S.M., to-day in a reserved decision not to have committed an offence. The charge was of behaving in a disorderly manner. Air. Page held that while the appearance of a person in a grotesque costume in the public streets might cause some excitement, that in itself, in the absence of other circumstances, did not constitute disorderly behavior. Save for the fact that he was thus clad, defendant’s conduct was in no way riotous or disorderly. His presence on the streets in a grotesque garb would, no doubt, attract some attention and might tend to cause a number of the public to follow him. The same might bo said of methods quite commonly adojjted for the purpose of advertisement. Ono occasionally saw, for example, a clown in full dress paraded through the streets to advertise a travelling circus, or perhaps a bevy of young people clad in South Sea Island costume paraded to advertise a visiting picture. To come within the section of the Act quoted he thought something more was needed, something in the nature of noisy, quarrelsome, abusive, or unruly behavior disturbing to the public peace. Nor did he think the. garb the defendant was wearing could he held to be an indecent one so as to bring defendant within the provisions of the Act relating to public decency. Boxers and wrestlers regularly appeared and performed in public moro scantily clad than was defendant.