Trouble Occurred After Girls Were Taken For Ride In Motor-Car.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 9

Trouble Occurred After Girls Were Taken For Ride In Motor-Car.

“ EVERYONE WITH A SISTER WILL REALISE THE POSITION,” SAYS THE MAGISTRATE, IN INFLICTING FINE. A MOTOR TRIP round the hays on Sunday, November 25, had a sequel in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when David Terris was charged with assaulting Edward Henry Ernest Nelson, at Sydenham. Defendant was fined £3 and costs, in default seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr Twyneham appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said that accused, in company with two male friends, met a girl friend in Cathedral Square. The girl wanted the three to go to a house in Sydenham, where two other girls were taken on board for a car ride. The girls were aged nineteen, seventeen and seven respectively. The party went on a trip, which included Governor’s Bay, and returned at about 8.30 p.m. A brother of the girls then remonstrated with his sisters on their conduct, and with the young men for taking them away. Nelson was struck on the mouth by defendant. and Nelson’s brother-in-law stepped in and stopped the disturbance.

“ The Court will realise,” added the Sub-Inspector, “ that it is not right for young girls to be taken away like this by young men of the likes of defendant.”

Edward Henry Ernest Nelson, eighteen years of age, said that the seven persons in the car when it drew up at about 8.30 p.m. included his three sisters. Witness went out to the car because his mother was worrying about the little girl being away for so long. He meant to chastise the girls.

Mr Twyneham: Why didn’t you wait till the girls came into the house? “ That’s my business,” replied witness, who denied having knocked defendant down on to the running board of the car.

James Poultney, brother-in-law of the witness Nelson, said that defendant struck Nelson on the jaw. Witness described this as a cowardly trick, whereupon defendant made to strike him. Witness knocked down his arm and put a ju-jitsu hold on to him, which forced him on to the running board of the car. Defendant was " a bit drunk,” and was certainly not sober. He was “ looking for fight ”at sums of from £5 to £lO.

Mr Twyneham: Half-past eight isn’t so very wicked, is it?

Witness: It was dusk, and we were worrying about the little girl. We didn't know where they had gone.

“Terris is a man of excellent reputation,” said Mr Twyneham. “He and his friends arranged that they should take these girls for a drive. They arrived back at the house at 8.30 p.m. They had nothing to fear The other two men rushed across the road and started calling, “What do you mean by taking these girls out? What do you mean by it?” They jostled Terris against the car, and he thought that the younger man was “coming at him ” He struck the younger man with his open hand, and then the two men knocked him down and held him against the car. The two men were obviously excited. As to the suggestion of drink, they had two before they went out, and that is all.”

In the box, David Terris said that he was 25 years of age. They had had three or four drinks at the Oxford Hotel. One of his party knew the girls and found out they were at the tennis courts and called for them. They had no drinks during the drive. The two men had come out and bustled witness and asked what he meant by keeping the girls out late. The two men looked hostile. Witness had disclaimed any responsibility, but when they combined to hustle him, he gave the younger one an “open hander” across the mouth. He had then been knocked on to the running board. To the Sub-Inspector, witness said that he had had no drink on the drive. The Sub-Inspector: Are you sure you had nothing at the Governor’s Bay Hotel?—Yes. “Be careful now!” Witness was silent. “Come on,” said the Magistrate, “it isn’t worth it.” es, we did have a drink there,” witness confessed. He admitted that drinks had been brought out to the girls in the car. “I won’t waste the Court’s time any further,” said the Sub-Inspector. “Everyone with a sister of their own will realise the position,” said the Magistrate. “Terris is fined £3 and costs, m default seven days’ imprisonment.”