AN ORGY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 4

AN ORGY.

' IN A CANTERBURY TRAIN. (By Teleeraph.-Special Corre3Dondent.l Christchurch, May 11. Three young men, who were members of a picnic party, organised by the employees of the Belfast Freezing Works that visited Little Eiver on March 21, appeared before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.,_ at the Magistrate's ' Court this morning, and were charged with having behaved in an offensive manner to tho annoyance of other passengers in the train.

'lhe evidence showed that the picnickers travelled to Little Biver by special train, and, on the return journey in tho evening, there was a good deal of unseemly behaviour. Many of the passengers were intoxicated, ■ and they created bo much disturbance on the train that it had to be stopped. On one occasion (SubInspector M'Grath said) the picnic appeared to have developed into a drunken orgy. According to the evidence for the police, John Chalker had been engaged in a fight that had terminated in the .breaking of a carriage window. The defendant said that, before the train started, he had had- several drinks, and- had got into a disturbance in which his head had been cut open by a blow with a bottle. He was not fully conscious when he. entered the train, and he.did not remember what occurred subsequently. _" The magistrate imposed a fine of 20s. and costs. ...... Frederick Olsen and Charles Burney appeared on similar charges. Burney was defended, by Mr. Cassidy, and both accused pleaded.:not guilty. . ' - Evidence was'called by Sub-Inspector M'Grath, which showed that Burney was sitting in a second-class 'carriage with a number of other persons, who. , were amusing themselves by singing. Olseri entered the carriage, and was anuoyed by someone pulling his coat. He turned to Burnej-, who was quite sober, and addressed an insulting remark to him, .which precipitated a fight. On this occasion two windows were broken. The charge against Burney was dismissed, and Olson, -who had paid £1 for the damage to tho windows, was convicted, and ordered to pay the. costs in "the case, .£3 2s. ''•