FINED FOR THROWING INK

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 7

FINED FOR THROWING INK

ADELAIDE SOCIETY PLAYWRIGHT.

NEWSPAPER CRITIC ASSAULTED.

By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. Rec. 9.50 p.m. Adelaide, Sept. 11. Patricia Hackett, the playwright who threw ink at a reporter critic whom she sought out at Parliament House, was fined £2O in the Police Court to-day with costs £4 4s, for unlawfully assaulting a journalist, Sidney Frederick Downer, the victim of the ink episode. The president of the Legislative Council to-day read a letter received from Miss Hackett expressing sincere regret to the Council for her behaviour.

Miss Hackett, daughter of Lady Moulden, figured in a real life drama at Parliament House, stated a cable received on September 5. Objecting to newspaper criticism of her theatrical production “Caprice” she went to Parliament House in search of the Advertiser’s reporter critic, and threw a bottle of ink at himIt is understood the bottle inflicted a gash on his forehead and that the ink was spilled down his clothes. “Now I think we are quits,” she ejaculated. “Ink for ink.” The reporter picked up the bottle and remarked: “Your ink, I think,” to which Miss Hackett replied: “I think you had most of it.” Miss Hackett is a prominent society girl and a barrister and solicitor. She produces plays in her own theatre.