LYTTELTON YOUTHS IN COURT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14844, 9 December 1913, Page 8

LYTTELTON YOUTHS IN COURT.

CHARGES DISMISSED. George Ryan and Leo Shuker, two youths, where charged yesterday before Messrs J. R. Webb, and L. A. Stringer, J.P.s, with using , insulting language, to wit, "You dirty rotten scabs" to special constables, who were on picket duty near the tunnel mouth on Sunday.

Mr Hunt appeared for accused, and pleaded "not guilty."

Leslie A. Dougall, special constable, said that their attention was called to accused by their calling out earcastic remarks, such as, "Show your passes." On their coming closer, Shuker called out the words with which he was charged. Witness pursued them and brought them back to the picket for identification.

Corroborative evidence was given by Frederick Graham and another "special." Leo John Shuker deposed that he was an apprentice of Smith and Co., engineers, and did not belong to any union. He had worked beside arbitrationists on different steamers, and had nothing against "specials." Hβ denied that he had used the language with which he was charged. The first he knew of it was when he was being taken back .by the picket. " Acting-Detective Carney said he knew both lads, who bore good characters. He passed them last evening, but saw.-nothing to indicate that they had used such language as was described.

The Bench expressed a hope that the present case would be a warning, and dismissed the charge.