LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4581, 1 March 1893, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

This Day. ! (Before E. Beetham, Esq., 8.M.) I Threatening Language.— Albert Edwin Faucett was charged with using threatening language towards S. B. Webb on Feb. 26, by which a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned. Mr Nalder appeared for accused and pleaded "Not guilty." Mr Webb, who conducted his own case, gave evidence to the effect that on Sunday night, Feb. 26, he was walking along Winchester street, and when he was abreast of the Crown Hotel two persons came out of the door, and a little later the accused came out of the door and passed witness and two others standing with him. As the accused came back to the : hotel he said "It's a cold night, come and , have abeer,"at the same time catching hold : of witness' coat. Accused then threatened j witness and said he would hit him on the ' nose if he did not dear out, and continued j to assault them (witness and his friend) ; calling them — prohibitionists. To Mr Nalder : Was a member of the Licensing j Bench. Was not in the habit of I going to church on Sunday nights. : For the past few weeks witness and two I others had been watching the pnblicj houses with the view of seeing to what , extent the law was being broken. Was in front of the Crown Hotel on Feb. 26 for about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. Saw another man there who was nearly drunk. Did not accuse defendant of having made this man drunk. Did not lift hia stick to accused. James Norton, a baker, gave corroborative evidence. ToMr Nalder : Witness was a member of the Committee who watched the public houses on Sunday nights. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Nalder called Frederick Bowen, a boarder at the Crown Hotel, who said he was sitting close to the window sill, when he saw Webb and Norton standing at the corner. There was another man named Fouldß present, and the four of them got into an argument about the respective merits of tea, coffee and beer. The argument waxed rather warm, and Foulds, in laying down the law to Webb, put his hand on Webb's chest, whereupon the latter threatened him with a stick. Faucett did nob make use of any threatening language towards Webb until the latter raised his stick, when Faucett said if he (Webb) struck him with the stick he would knock his head off. Thomas Lodge, son of the licensee of the Crown Hotel : Saw Webb and Norton standing on the corner of the street near the hotel, and Bowen, Foulds, and these two engaged in an argument on prohibition and tea and coffee. Saw Webb raise his stick to laucett. Albert Edwin Faucett, barman of the Crown Hotel, said he saw Webb and Norton standing on the corner of the street close to the hotel. As witness approaohed them Webb said, "Here comes another of them." Foulds continued to argue with Webb and eventually put his hand on Webb, when the latter raised his stick to Foulds. His Worship said there was no doubt that these people who had ; elected to watch public houses were quite within their rights. It was equally clear that their action was very annoying to those whose business it affected. The whole thing was a storm in a teapot. Accused would be fined 10s.— A similar charge against F. Bowen was dismissed, and the crosß action against S. E. Webb by Faucett was withdrawn.