MAN WAS GUILTY OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19197, 10 October 1930, Page 7

MAN WAS GUILTY OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

appears on charges IN ASHBURTON COURT.

( Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON, October 10. An unusual series of charges was preferred against a young married man, Bernard Lewis Blackwell, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M. The charges were as follows: Drunkenness, wilfully damaging Government property at the police station, disorderly behaviour, obscene language, and driving a car without a license. Mr V. W. Russell appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all charges. Senior-Sergeant Martin stated that the charge of having no driver’s license had been laid as the result of a misunderstanding, and would be withdrawn. Constable O. Murphy stated that accused, who was standing beside his car when he arrested him, was drunk, and was in this condition two hours later. Constable Thyne also gave evidence as to Blackwell’s state of drunkenness when arrested. James Keen, an employee on the Ashburton Traffic Bridge, stated that accused, who was drunk, was on the deck of the new bridge about three o’clock in the afternoon. He was staggering and waving a bottle of beer. Corroborative evidence was given by G. F. Clark and William James Cross. Dr G. I. Miller stated that he put accused through the usual tests. He went through them satisfactorily, but he was talkative, and hi,s breath smelt strongly of alcohol. The Magistrate stated he was satisfied that Blackwell was in a state which might be described as a “common garden drunk,” and imposed a fine of 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. On the charge of damaging Government property he was ordered to pay £1 Is 6d, the cost of the damage. On the charges of disorderly behaviour and use of obscene language, evidence was given by H. Lewis, J. Cross, J. Keen and G. F. Clark. On the first charge he was convicted and discharged, and was fined £3 with costs, £2, in default seven days’ imprisonment, on. the charge of using obscene language. Traffic Cases. Leslie J. Watt appeared on a charge of driving a car over the Havelock Street railway crossing when the line was not clear. He was fined 10s and costs. Ivan Shaw was fined 10s and costs for riding a cycle at night without a light. Arthur W. Bennison was charged with driving an engine without a license and with using an engine which was not registered. For the first offence he was convicted and discharged, and for the second he was fined £1 with costs 10s. Civil Claims. In a civil claim Gordon Welsh (Mr L. Charles) proceeded against Thomas Miller (Mr W. H. Woods) for £22 9s 4d in connection with tyres supplied. The defence was that the tyres were unsuitable for the vehicle. After hearing evidence the case was adjourned. Judgment for plaintiffs was given in the following undefended case: G. E. Goldsmith and Sons v. S. Sullivan, £22 Ss 3d, costs £4 3s 6d. A. Storrier was ordered to pay M’Donald and Dunlop £ll 2s 6d, in default fourteen days, the warrant to be suspended on condition that he paid £2 per month, the first payment to be made on November 30.