A WILD SCENE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1939, Page 3

A WILD SCENE

FIGHT IN RESTAURANT. FURNITURE AND CROCKERY ' HURLED ABOUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 4. The Pearl Fisheries restaurant in Queen Street was left a shambles after a fight there on Saturday evening, according to evidence in the Magistrate’s Court, when three men appeared before Mr W. R. McKean,' S.M. They were Alexander Stewart Duff, labourer, aged 41; Patrick John Byrne, seaman, aged 25; and David Thomas Rowan, seaman, aged 25. They pleaded not guilty to a series of charges. All three accused were charged with mischief by wilfully damaging two plate-glass table tops, seven chairs, crockery and food valued at £lO, the property of Michael Marinovich. Byrne and Rowan were jointly charged with disorderly behaviour and fighting Duff, who was separately charged with fighting with Byrne and using insulting words. , ■ - . ‘,-L A waitress, Queenie Miley, said Duff started an argument, and she asked him to make less noise. He replied with offensive words, and she slapped him across the face. Byrne, sitting with Rowan at the next table, got up and reproached 1 Duff" and a fight started.

A shop assistant, Marjorie O’Halloran, said that tables, chairs, crockery, sugar basins and sauce bottles as well as food were hurled all over the dining-room, which was full at the time.

Constables Webb and Price said they found obvious evidence of severe fighting when they entered the restaurant. The proprietor, Michael Marinovich, said the restaurant had to be closed as a result of the damage caused by the disturbance.

Duff gave evidence that another person, not arrested, started the trouble, struck Eyrne over the head with a bottle and left before the police arrived.

Rowan denied fighting. Byrne said he was unable to remember what happened after he was struck on the head with a bottle. He also denied starting the fight.

Sub-Inspector Penddr said Rowan had been convicted eight times since he arrived in New Zealand three years ago, and Byrne also had previous convictions for assault. Duff had been .convicted on a maintenance matter. On the charge of mischief, each accused was ordered to make £3 6s 8d restitution and to pay 12s witnesses’ expenses. Duff was fined £2 for using insulting words, and Rowan and Byrne were each fined £2 for disorderly behaviour. Byrne was ordered to pay his own medical expenses. Other charges were withdrawn. They were allowed seven days to pay.