He Has Certainly Fallen From Grace, Says Magistrate.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 2

He Has Certainly Fallen From Grace, Says Magistrate.

CONDUCT OF RELIEF WORKERS IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE DESCRIBED BY GUARD AS WORST HE HAD SEEN.

Four men appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, charged with behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk in a railway carnage on the Waiau-Christ-church line 3-esterda3'. They were Andrew Hardie, aged twenty-nine, Michael John Daniel Lynch, aged twenty, Thomas Augustine O’Neill, aged twenty*-four, and John Hunter, aged twenty-eight. Hunter was further charged with using obscene language. Each accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said that the facts of the case were most disgusting. The accused had been employed on the relief works at Culverden, which had closed for Christmas. The workmen had had one compartment to .themselves. They were all more or less drunk, and there was liquor in the carriage. There was drinking and fighting going on, and much obsee-e language. The guard had said tliat in twenty'-seven years’ experience he had never seen such a disgraceful scene before. “ They *wer® on relief work,” continued the Sub-Inspector, “ and their money wee provided by the Government. This is how they use it. Their sort will always want relief work.” Guard C. 11. Hunter said that Hardie had got into a carriage where all the others were, and had got into rows. He had used repeatedly one obscene word, though witness had cautioned him three times. Hardie did not cease using the word. Witness, in twentyseven 3-ears’ experience, had been faced with man3' rows in railway' carriages, but he never wanted another like that. One passenger who got on at Culverden with the intention of going to Christchurch had been so disgusted that he got off at the next stop.

“My son is under age.” said the mother of the accused Lynch, when given permission to address the Court. “ I’ve never known him to drink or swear. He was brought up in a convent and is almost a cripple. He was in bed for two years, and was just trying to earn some money while waiting for another job." ‘ He’s in very bad company," said the Magistrate. " He’s a good boy, air!" “ He has certainly fallen from grace." In response to a question from the mother, the Magistrate said that he would consider the suppression of Lynch’s name. “ You're a sorry-looking lot of young men,” said Mr Mosley*. " Your behaviour was disgusting and reprehensible in every way.” At this stage a man in the back of the Court asked if he could speak for the accused. He aaid that there was nothing disgusting in their behaviour. “Stand back,” said the Magistrate. “ They have pleaded guilty to the charge, and the guard’s evidence has satisfied me. People in a train have no method of escaping from such trouble. Such a case should be met with substantial punishment, and it will.” Hardie, was fined £3 or fourteen days’ imprisonment for obscene language, and £3 or fourteen da vs’ imprisonment for disorderly behaviour. Lynch, the youngest of the quartette, was fined 20s, in default two days’ imprisonment, and O’Neill and Hunter were each fined £3, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment. The Magistrate refused to allow time lin which to pay;