DRUNKEN SPREE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1923, Page 6

DRUNKEN SPREE.

DAY OUT ON THE BEACH. “THE MORNING AFTER.” The expression “the morning after the night before” was well illustrated by the appearance in the dock at the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth yesterday of two dishevelled prisoners, in the persons of Thomas Brennan and John Joseph Larkin, the latter a fairly frequent “visitor” to the court. Larkin had to answer a charge of drunkenness, coupled with another of breaking a prohibition order which was issued against him a few days ago at his request. Brennan was charged with drunkenness and with using obscene language. Minus a collar and of a generally unkempt appearance, Brennan also bore physical marks of his day out. His right eye was almost closed and was black, and beneath it was a cut which was still bleeding slightly. On his forehead was another cut, deeper and bigger than the other and of more ugly appearance. Larkin appeared to have a clear eye and was steady in his speech and actions, but his unbrushed hair and the absence of any degree of tidinoss in his manner of wearing his clothes gave him such a dishevelled appearance that his solicitor (Mr.*C. E. Monaghan) put this in as a defence, suggesting that his usual unkempt appearance caused the police to get the impression that he was drunk. According to the evidence the accused were arrested by Sergeant Martin and Constable Butler on Tuesday afternoon on the esplanade, near the railway overbridge. When encountered Larkin was staggering about on the esplanade coming from the direction of Kawaroa ; Park. He was qquite itrunk and also ! smelt of liquor. Sergeant Martin took I him in charge and Constable Butler comjpleted the bag by collecting Brennan, ; who was lying on the beach beside a broken demijohn of beer. Brannan became violent when arrested and had to be handcuffed. His language was of a particularly lurid variety, and was used in the presence of a fairly large crowd. In the court yesterday morning, Larkin denied that* he had'been drunk. He said that he had not had any liquor at all on Tuesday and had not been in Brennan’s company on the beach. He had been quite surprised when he found that he had been arrested. The magistrate (Mr. A. M. Mowlem) entered a conviction, the matter of a penalty be- ; ing reserved until Brennan’s case was ! dealt with.

; Giving details of the obscene langu- ; age used by Brennan, who pleaded not I guilty to that charge, Sergeant Martin said that he “exhausted the whole vocai bulary of obscenity.” Brennan expressed his sorrow for the occurrence, and agreed to take out a prohibition order against himself. On the charge of drunkenness he was fined 10s and ordered to pay 2s 6d cab hire, and for using obscene language he was given fourteen days’ imprisonment with- ; out the option of a fine. ‘lt will give ! you a chance of getting the beer out of : your system.” the magistrate remarked. : Sentencing Larkin, Mr. Mowlem warned i him that the “island” would be the only i place for him if he came before the i court again. Fines of £3, in default seven days’ imprisonment, were imposed > on the charge of drunkenness, and of ! £l, with a similar default, in respect iof the second charge. Time in which to pay the fines was refused.