FRANKTON TROUBLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17885, 4 December 1929, Page 4

FRANKTON TROUBLE.

FOUR YOUNG MEN IN COURT. CONVICTED OF FIGHTING. There were lively doings in Frankton on a recent evening, when four young men held a boxing tournament to which the public were not invited. It was left to the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court this morning to unravel the cause of the disturbance, and the voluble “ explanations ” of the opposing factions rendered Mr Wyvern Wilson’s task in. this connection no light one. Three youths Patrick Hynes, Arthur Johnstone, and Thomas Shaw —responded to their names, but there was no sign of David Shaw. The three pleaded guilty to fighting. The affair started when Hynes and Thomas Shaw commonced to argue outside the Frankton Theatre. They were interrupted there by the police, but, nothing daunted, they retired to the railway sheds, where they engaged in fistic combat. After being chased away by the constable, who again Interrupted the argument, they, in company with two other youths, David Shaw and Johnstone, met by arrangement in Bandon Street, where Hynes fought the other three, one arter the other. Ilyncs, giving bis version of the fray, said that he Dad taken exception to certain remarks by Shaw about his father. When they adjourned to Bandon Street, the other three had “ taken to ” him, and after knocking him down had “ put the boot in.” As a result he had been laid up for several days. When asked if he had any explanation to offer, Thomas Shaw was nothing loath, and entered on a voluble explanation of the affair. He laid the wliolc blame on Hynes, whom he told the Court was looking for fight. Following an argument in a billiard-saloon they were “ kicked out.” In the flghfc with Hynes at the railway sheds Hynes had knocked him down and “ put in the boot.” Later Hynes challenged Johnstone, and he and his younger brother accompanied the pair to Bandon Street to see fair play. In the general fight that ensued Hynes knocked down Johnstone and, turning to David Shaw, commenced to fight him. Thomas Shaw joined in, and left Hynes on the side of the road. ‘when he went back with the constable, Hynes said lie was all right, and remarked: “ I think I will go home.” “ No, my boy, you come with me." They adjourned to the police station. “ This seems to be a case of force of bad example," remarked His Worship, “ and the aftermath of the Magnor affair.” They seemed to think that they could fight indiscriminately in a public place.” He was of opinion that Hynes’ aggressiveness was the cause of the disturbance, but he did not like the idea of the three “taking to” Hynes. Each defendant was fined Ana. with costs 101.