ACT OF HOOLIGANS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 64, 13 April 1943, Page 5

ACT OF HOOLIGANS

YOUNG GIRLS MOLESTED

INCIDENTS AFTER DANCE

Incidents during the process and after a dance held at Waio- ' tahi on the evening of March 9th last, led to the appearance ini the Opoitiki Court last Friday of four Waimana youths, B. and J. Hughes, N. Gi'llanders and L. Bell who were desteribed by the police as a gang who were responsible for several complaints 1 from d'ances. Fines of £1 and £2 covering two charges were im~ ported on three of the aacuSed, the fourth B. Hughes being dischargedl. Police evidence showed that at the dance in question the four accused who were jointly charged were standing on'a bridge near the hall and had attempted! to detain a young Maori girl who was trying to pass them and return to the hall. Evidence by the girl showed that one of the l'our had held out liis annsj and stopped her until she called out. He had then let go his grip. Mr B. S. Barry who defended, said that he strongly objected to all four being charged on this count, as the girl's evidence alone admitted that only one was concerned. The act had been more or less one of bravado and there had been nti serious intent. The magistrate agreed to this and as L. Bell had admitted in his states inent. to the. police that he had held out his arm and stopped the girl he wouild be fined £1 and the charges against the other three dismissed. Cyclist at Kutarere The second charge against the four accused was that on the same night when returning from the Waiotahi dance they did assault another young woman at. Kutarere. In this case the evidence for the prosecution showed that the young woman concerned was returning to her home in the early hours, after having been visiting friends. When the car approached she was dazzled by the lights and as she was travelling in loose metal had stopped with one foot on the road to let the car pass. The car stopped too and four young men got out and. came towards her. She was afraid of their manner and leaving her machine ran down a side road. To add to hei alarm, they ran after her and. soon caught her up. Two of them grabbed her by the arms and in hef fright she screamed for help. At once they released her and made off. When the car had gone she collected her bicycle and reported the matter to her people. Mr Barry stated that in effect the evidence was correct but that the car had been stopped only when the driver saw the young woman fall from her machine. It was then thought that she had been injured and the young men had then got out to; see if she had been seriously hurt. As related by the girl, she had become frightened and made off down the road. The young fellows were surprised at her action and on the spur of the moment had, given chase. Unfortunately as they had admitted to the police they had seized the girl's arms, but had no intention of harming her. They let her go immediately she screamed. The magistrate, Mr E. L. Walion, said he could not take a lenient view of the case and would impose a fine of £2 each upon the two accused who had followed the girJ and, held her by the arms'. hoped it would serve as a warning to'the other two' who would be dismissed with a caution.