A TROUBLOUS EVENING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 7

A TROUBLOUS EVENING

liOW IN A RESTAURANT. •Tho proclivities of certain visitors to Wellington imparted an unfamiliar. air to the thoroughfares of Wellington on Saturday, so much so that the civil police had an exceedingly busy experience -in restoring matters to the normal state of quietude. Over-indulgence, in the glass which is purported to cheer, but most effectively inebriates at times, appears to have been the cause of the disturbances, which were responsible for an accretion to the business of the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

One wise heard wins that in which AVilliam Clarence Scott was charged with having dnno wilful damago lo crockery and a silvor cruct-slnnd in a restaurant in Cuba Street. Tho valuo of the damaged goods amounted lo Ji3. Froin tho ovitle.'ici 1 it appeared that about G p.m. a number of men ivcnt to tho restaurant, tlia proprietor of which is Arthur Harvey, and demanded something to cat, Three, of them were very much in liquor, so thoy wero met with a refusal. Upon this, Scott struck at Harvey, who dodged tho blow. Scott then proceeded to wreak his wrath upon the contents of tho rcslaurant, smashing a number of tumblers, glassware, a silver cruet-stand, and n door. Tlio polico came upon the scene, which ihey found to be one of grent disorder. The place was cleared, but Scott, who was behaving in a very violent manner, was detained.

Scott was not present in Court lo defend tho charge, but Inspector Marsack explained to Mr. F. V. F.razor, S.M., that an amount of 30s. found in the man's possession would be. available to meet part ol' the amount of the damage. The man had also given a vouchor to cover the balance of Hie expenses. The amount of d£s, added the inspector, was a very low estimate of the amount of damage done.

In the circumstances, His Worship eaid that the only thing ho could do would lie to convict tho defendant and make an order that ho should pay tho amount of XV). On a charge of drunkenness he would be convicted and discharged. Several oilier men who spent Saturday in convivial fashion were treated leniently as first offenders.