PASSIVE RESISTER AGGRESSIVE

Southland Times, Issue 17231, 30 December 1912, Page 5

PASSIVE RESISTER AGGRESSIVE

(Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, December 29. About 9.30 on Friday night, there seemed to he some wordy argument going on in Cathedral Square, near the United Service Hotel. The tale was told to Mr T. A. B. Bailey. S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. II was a story pointing a moral, for it shows that the passive resistor is not always a meek person who turns the other cheek, but in some cases is a young man whoso hands are unusually active, Harold Denton, secretary of the Passive Resistors’ Union, appeared to answer a charge of having behaved in a manner whereby a breach of tiie peace was accassioned. Detective Ward gave evidence that, at about the time stated, lie saw two boys aged about fifteen nr sixteen quarrelling, and .‘'.me passive resistors bad .joined with them. He saw Denton deliberately M-ik.. a small bov a violent blow in the face, and at once arrested him. Accused conducted his own defence with the_aid of a pencil and n niece of paper. ”7lf said that lie bad been at a Passive Resistors' Union meeting, and had launched into talk of what lie called "Mltitanarism." when his Worship pulled hip up. saying that he wished no address of the sort. I Denton's story was to the) effect that two boys were arguing, and’one called the other "a tiling." The' other hoy became annoyed, and the fir’st said ho had not called him names,. but had meant them tor that •’thing'.'’ pointing to Denton. Denton, continuing, said tha’ he diil not strike the 1 lad. He merely laid Ids hand on his shoulder, and asked him to withdraw 'the words. It was “problematical" whether Detective Ward saw what happened. Ho believed the fracas (pronounced "phrases") was over before the detective arrived on the scene. Three other passive resistors gave similar evidence, hut admitted that they mlgh " nor have seen all.

His ‘Worship said that it was quite evident that an assault her) (tiken place, which might have resulted in serious injury. Accused wr>uk< be fined Ids. in def tit seven days' imprlson- , jnent.