THREW KNIVES AT WAITERS

Southland Times, Issue 25655, 24 April 1945, Page 7

THREW KNIVES AT WAITERS

SOLDIER’S BEHAVIOUR IN CAFE

“This is the worst possible language, used at the worst possible time in the worst possible place,” commented the Magistrate (Mr R. C. Abernethy) yesterday when sentencing Frank Murdoch, a returned soldier, aged 25 years, to seven days’ imprisonment for using obscene language to a waitress in the Britannia Cafe. “I would be failing in my duty if I did not tell you and other returned soldiers that they cannot use this language to women with impunity. It does hot mean anything among men, but it does mean much to decent women.” On a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in the Britannia Cafe Murdoch was convicted and discharged and for damaging three panes of glass in the shop of Chin Yep Kon in Don street he was fined £1 and ordered to pay the amount of the damage, £6/0/10. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Murdoch and another man visited a Chinese in Don street on Saturday night and asked for some tobacco, said Senior-Sergeant W. J. Irwin. He also asked the Chinese why he was not away fighting the Japanese. The Chinese did not have the tobacco asked for and Murdoch and his mate broke the windows as they left the shop. Murdoch would not tell the police the name of his mate; he said he preferred to take the blame. Later in the evening Murdoch was found at the Britannia Cafe arguing with the proprietor. THREW KNIVES ABOUT “The waitress refused to serve him and he used obscene language and threw knives at the waiters,” said Senior-Sergeant Irwin. He handed to the Magistrate in writing the words used by Murdoch. “He is a returned man and he seems to have a set on foreigners,” added the senior-sergeant. Mr J. R. Hanan, for Murdoch, described the case as a most unfortunate one. Murdoch had a good record overseas. He left New Zealand as an infantryman in 1941 and later was transferred to the engineers. He returned to New Zealand last year and quickly settled down to his trade as a bricklayer. His conduct for the last year had been good. Then on Saturday he met a pal and they adjourned to the Kelvin bar, and later the distressing events of the weekend occurred. When interviewed Murdoch did not remember any of those events. The words used to the waitress were common to the soldier, added Mr Hanan. It was his first offence and in view of his good record he deserved well of his country.