DISTURBANCE AT DANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17991, 9 April 1930, Page 4

DISTURBANCE AT DANCE.

YOUTHS FIGHT IT OUT. SEQUEL IN COURT. There was an altercation between two young men in a Hamilton dance hall recently which culminated in the parties concerned adjourning to an adjacent allotment to settle their differences by fistic combat. In the Hamilton Magistrate’s Courtthis morning, the names of the two youths involved w ; ere called before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to answer the charge of fighting in a public place. The two William Sallen (Mr Tompkins) and Vivian Brunton (Mr Strang), pleaded guilty. Police information showed that following an argument between these two young men they had adjourned outside to fight it out. The affray was interrupted by the arival of the police. The Senior-Sergeant pointed out that a number of young people from the hall had also left the dance to witness the fight. Mr L. Tompkins, counsel for Sallen, submitted that his -client had been goaded on to fight by Brunton. A companion of Brunton had interfered with his client’s tie an* when he had remonstrated with him, Brunton had joined in and had addressed insulting words to him. He submitted therefore that his client was not the aggressor but had been egged on by Brunton.

Mr J. F. Strang, for Brunton, explained that his client had taken up the cudgels on his friend’s behalf. He admitted his full share of the responsibility of the occurrence. His Worship considered, that from the evidence submitted, it w r as apparent that Sallen had been egged on by the other party. Brunton would be convicted and fined 40s with costs and Sallen ordered to pay costs to the extent of 15s.