PIE-CART FRACAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 4

PIE-CART FRACAS.

ENDS IN FORTNIGHT'S GAOL. SOME THIRSTY DRUNKS. SPRINGEIELDERS' CELEBRATION. A wild 1 desire seized "William Brown last night to be oock of the pie-cart,; v and his warlike manifestations got too hot for the pieman and his patrons,'; so the police were sent for. William and Jarnes, his brother, arrived late, , q.t the piecart, after a long drawn-out libation, not to say "jag, 1 ' in honour' of St Patrick. Jim was really tagging ; along at this stage, being very drunk,- - but the potency of the pios worked upon him tiJl he became bellicose, uke brother Bill. Constable Ryan came ■ Upon a wild scene when he arrived to i restore order. , The sequel was a Court ca*e this- ; morning, when William Brown was charged with drunkenness and assaulting Constable Ryan. James Brown, . his 1 brother, admitted! disorderly behaviour while drunk. 'lt appeared' that Bill and Jim had come in from Springfield last night in honour of'St Patrick'. Jim was said to bo the y drunker, and offered no physical violence to tho police, but Bill clouted the . constable ■ v on the way'to "the station. Long records were handed up for, ' such young < men. "I see they have been prohibited," said the Magistrate. ' "I am not prohibited,'' said James. . a Glad you reminded' me," said the : Magistrate. "I am going to prohibit you." He added that he .must stop rowdyism. . Bill was - convicted of drunkenness, and sentenced to fourteen days for assault. Jim was fined 40s and costs; .in default one month's imprisonment. A look .of angyished protest' overspread his face. Heseemedto.be in for a ride to Lyttelton. . : "A WASTER."

Henry James Brown (Mr Cassidy) admitted three'breaches of a prohibition order. • Detective-Sergeant Cox said that-lie had been commit tea to Roto Hoa as an habitual inebriate on February 12, 1912, for two years, but had been released on probation, and prohibited fori a year, after serving seven months. : ' The Magistrate, pointed, out that it was not clear whether Brown had broken the terms of his probation, and would have to be remanded till Saturday to make sure on the point.- If he had done so, he would send him back. Breach of probation struck at the very root of his release, and if it was not going to be punished they might as well hang, up the Act vat

once. Mrs Brown, for whom Mr Cyril Stringer appeared, applied for an order of • ' maintenance and guardianship against Henry. • - . ■ The Magistrate said that prima faciei \ there Avere grounds for making the order. • ' Mr Cassidy said that he objected to an. order for the wife,, who had just come into £3OO. He. added thai Brown worked all right in the country. "The man is a waster," said 'the Magistrate. "Ho is either breaking, •his"order or getting drunk." The wifo said she had four children, and could not keep them under 7s 6d a week each. She had taken proceedings for divorce on the grounds of druukenness and cruelty. ~ The Magistrate said that he would not intercept the divorce proceedings, but would ordor the husband .to pay £1 a week towards the support of tho children. In the circumstances, if he could do so, he would not commit Brown to Roto Boa. REMANDED.

Edward Erickson/ alias Burton, a voiui" man, was charged that on March 13 he had stolen from the dwelling of Frederick ICerr <'v gold chain, medal and match-box valued at £lO. _ Ho was remanded till oaturday on the application of Defective-Sergeant Cox who said that if nothing was known about Burton the charge might be reduced.