SCUFFLE AT THEATRE DOOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1157, 19 June 1911, Page 4

SCUFFLE AT THEATRE DOOR.

. 1 ; MR. FEED. DUVAL INJURED. i t (By Telojraph.-Special Correspondent.! Auckland, Juno 13. f A disturbance took place at one of the 1 Durham Street entrances to His 11a- • jesty's Theatre oil Friday night. It ap--1 pears, that' a member ut' die audience returned rather unsober alter an interval . in an entertainment given by "The WanI derers," and he was refused readmittance. He used some bad language and, • on Mr. I'red. Duval, theatrical manager, ; making ail appearauco and advising the 1 man to go home, he swung round with ' the result that Mr. Duval was thrown 1 against a door, and received a severe cut on the head, i The sequel came on Saturday morning when a young mail named Allied Watson, for whom Mr. J. H. Luudon appeared, was charged with using certain language, and with assaulting Mr. Duval by sinking him on the face. Watson pleaded not guilty to the latter charge, Mr. London explaining that he had seen Mr. Duval and that there had been no assault by striking. Station-Sergeant Trainer asked leave (o amend the assault charge, staling that tho accused had forced complainant's head against the door, thus causing the injury. Frederick Duval gave evidence to the effect that, at a little before 10 o'clock he was sitting in his office at the theatre, i and heard accused arguing with tho [ door-keeper, tie advised him to go away and, a little later, he heard him again arguing. This time accused, who was under the influence of liquor, was accompanied by two others. Witness went up to accused end, taking him by the shoulders, again advised him to go away. Accused immediately swung witness round, and he fell, striking his head. He knew nothing further after that. Continuing, witness stated that lie did not wish to press the charge of assault, but he wished it to be known that a theatrical manager could refuse admittance to anyone whom he deemed would be a nuisance. George Stephenson, theatrical proprietor, gave evidence that, hearing words at (he Durham .Street entrance, lie went out and, seeing that Mr. Duval was cutacross the head, he procured n policeman; and gave accused in custory for assault and bad Accused made o(f down the street, "doing a fast hundred yards." Ho was, however, secured and arrested. Previous to this accused had been using very bad language, and some of the audience came out in consequence.

The check-keener save evidence (hat accused was refused readmit tancc lo (lie theatre owinc to his being under the influence of liquor. His Worship convicted accused on botli olinr.'.'cs. Tt was not, a one*!inn, lie said, whether 51 r. Buval wished to press Ihe assault case, but one where ii would have lo be understood that, when a person was quite properly put out. and he turned on the official, lie committed an assault. Accused was fined ,£S or 11 days' imprisonment for assault, and ,C 2, 'or seven days' imprisonment for ushw the words complained of, I