LARRIKINISM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7180, 3 June 1891, Page 3

LARRIKINISM.

♦ At the Christchurch R.M. Court this morning, before Mr E. Beetham, ten boys, named John Murray, George Friedborn, Thomas Wood, Daniel Archer, Frederick Beck, John Harris, Arthur Weßt, Ernest Monkman, Charleß TJnwin and Frederick Unwin were charged with throwing rofcten fruit and vegetables at the Addington Oddfellows' Hall during the Salvation Army services on May 12, contrary to the Police Offences Act. Mr Creeswell defended the accused. Inspector Fender prosecuted, and withdrew the charge against Monkman. Ernest Minnifie was a member of the Salvation Army at Addmgton, on May 12. There was a lot of boys about the building during the march past, and these applied for admittance into the hall during the service and were refused, as they had been behaving in a noisy manner on a section near the place. Soon after this they . began throwing stuff at the building, apples and a little of all sorts, and an apple went through a plate-glass window of the hall at about 8.30 p.m. Recognised Murray and Friedborn aB being about and assisting in the disturbance, and Frederick Unwin was in the crowd. Heard a good deal of shouting, and some obscene languageused. Saw Friedborntwice about the entrance to the building. Cross-examined : Murray wanted to go into the hall at the start, but was refused. Did not see Friedborn throw anything, but he was present. James Archer: Was outside the room during the disturbance, and saw Murray there ; and Seek threw something, but he could not say what, towarde the Oddfellows' Hall. Saw West, Hawk and Unwin there, and some of the boyE carrying things in their hands. Margaret Ann Atkins : Was passing th« Hall when the things were thrown, and recognised Fred Unwin as being there. Lucy Townsend and John Coombes gave evidence. Constable Drake made enquiries about the affair, and all the boys in Court admitted being there, but denied taking part in the disturbance. Draper Harris, caretaker at the hall : The pane of glass broken was worth 7s. The paint on the front of the building was all smeared over with rotten fruit and that sort of stuff, and it cost two hours' work and 5s to clean it down afterwards. For the defence Mr Cresswell called the following witnesses :— J. Hooper, a lad : Saw Beck and another of the boys there, and they did not throw the fruit. He was there nearly, but not quite, tall the time, and took no part in it himself. Unwin was not throwing any of the stuff while he was there. James Murray: Was present during the throwing, but took no part in it. He did not go to Unwin's for fruit, and could not say who threw it. Frederick Unwin : Took no part in the affair. Went home to get an overcoat to protect his clothes, and did not bring any fruit back with him. J. Beck : Was there during the row, and was hib behind the ear with a tussock, and in return threw an apple at one of the boys, but not at the building. The Benoh found that F. Unwin, Beck, Friedborn and Murray were implicated in the throwing, and if they committed ouch acts of larrikinism they must take the consequences. They would be fined 10s each, and 7s, the value of the glass, and 5s cost of cleaning the building would be divided amongst them as well as the coats of the C»urt.