DISTURBING A THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9211, 14 April 1908, Page 3

DISTURBING A THEATRE.

I TWO YOUTHS FINED. Last night William Barr and Sydney Boon were ejected from the Opera House for having behaved in a disorderly manner there. The two men, almost youths, entered the tlieatre, and obtained seats in the rear of the stalls. They were both under the influence of liquor, and commenced calling to the artists on the stage and generally misbehaving themselves. They were repeatedly cautioned by the doorkeeper, and finally two members of the police, who happened to he in the theatre, assisted to turn the two men out. Boon resisted, and in the struggle Constable H. Nuttall's trousers were badly damaged. , This morning the two men appeared before Mr H W. Bishop, S.M., and were charged with having, while drunk, behaved in a disorderly manner in the Opera House. Boon, in addition, was charged with having damaged Constable Nuttall's trousers, valued at £1 Is 6d. The two men pleaded not guilty, but Boon's only defence was that he had resisted the constable because he had not known that he was a policeman. Barr did not say anything in 'defence. Mr Bishop eaid that it was such people as the accused who. behaved insufferably at entertainments-, and prevented many respectable people attending theatres. On the charge of disorderly behaviour each would be fined 40s and costs, in default one month's imprisonment, and Boon would have to pay for the damage done to Nuttall's trousers.