A TRAM HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 141, 10 March 1920, Page 8

A TRAM HELD UP

PASSENGERS MAKE TROUBLE POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS FOLLOW For fully iO minutes Inst Saturday night a tramoar, bound for Aro Street, was hold up at the corner of Willis and Ingestre Streets owing, it is alleged, to the conduct of some intoxicated passengers. Particulars of the trouble were detailed at tho .Magistrate's Court yesterday beta Messrs. R. D. Hanlou and •J. Salek, J.P.'s, when Samuel Champion and Harry Mann (a Maori) were separately charged with obstructing Tram Conductor William Scoble. In his report on tho matter tho conductor stated: ". . . the thing, had gone so far now that we could not, to have any control in tho future, have gone on." ■ Mr. J. O'Shea (City Solicitor) prosecuted, and Mr. A. B. Sievwright appeared for Champion. Mann was iiot represented by counsel. "Intolerable Public Nuisance." Mr. O'Shea said that on Saturday last a tram left the Post Office Square nt G.l. p.m. for Aro Street. This tram usually collected a number of persons who left public-houses about fi o'clock. During the week a special relief tram was run on this lino to cope with tho extra traffic at that hour, but on Saturday night there was no relief tram. When the tram under notice reached tho corner of Ingestre and Willie Streets the conductor proceeded to movo the people off the centre platform. Tho tram Was packed, and many of the passengers were under the influence of liquor. Tho conductor was unable to clear tho platform owing to the peculiar temper of several of the passengers. In tho meantime Mann, who became impatient, pulled the bell with the idea of starting the tram, and then got off. The crowd, however, urged him to return, and it was alleged that Champion was one of the chief offenders. The tram had boon held up for 40 minutes, when Inspector Svenson and Constable Walsh came on the scene. The constable sin-

pled Champion out as the principal offender. "This occurs every night," concluded counsel, "but chiefly on Saturday night, when the corporation is unable to run a relief tram. These persons coming from the public-houses make themselves an intolerable public nuisance." . A Threatening Crowd. Evidence was given by the raotorman and the conductor of the tram that some, of the passengers were drunk. When the tram stopped the situation became very ugly and verged upon a riot. The passengers on the centre platform absolutely refused to move, so the motorman, powerless to eject a crowd in 6uch a dangerous mood, lit a cigarette and informed the pn6engers that the tram would not move till the platform was cleared. The inspector eaid that when he Came on the senile he heard about Mann's conduct. When Mann was asked for his namo Champion said "Don't give them your name." Champion repeated this several times. The constablegave corroborative evidence and described the "barracking" which followed the official investigations. Constable Walsh was in plain clothes, and Champion wanted to know'what right he had to ask for Mann's name. ( The situation was dangerous. Practically all tho occnpants of tho front of the tram were drunk.

' At this stage Mr. O'Shea applied to the Court for permission, to amend the l information so as to charge Champion with obstructing a tramway inspector in the execution of his duty. Mt. Sievwright objected, submitting that Mr. O'Shea's request was not in x the form of an amendment, mrt was in reality a request for a substitution, of n new charge. The Bench' agreed to the.amendment. Constable Walsh, cross-examined by. Mr. Sievwright. said that Champion was up and down in the tram. Everyone was excited. When witness saw Champion at Abol Smith Street, witness was taking Mann's name. It was not a fact that Champion offered to give his name and address in order that he might bo able to give evidence on behalf of Mann. Champion subsequently shouted out his name. Witness had considerable difficulty in getting Mann's name and address. The crowd was very hostile, lind Champion was the ringleader of the obstruction, This conoluded the case for the prosecution so far as Champion was concerned. Champion Discharged, Champion, in evidence, denied the allegations and said that he "did nothing." He did not see Mann do anything, but he went back, after leaving the crowd, to see that Mann got fair play. Mr. O'Shea: What did you go back for?—"To see that Mann got fair play." Why?—"Becauso he might have been summoned " What for?—" For obstructing the traffic." Who was obstructing the traffic?— "Well, the tram was held up for a long time." In reply to further questioning, defendant denied that he told Mann not to givo his name. The constablo was wrong when'ho said that defendant lias drunk.

Counsel for the defeneo said that.he had nine- witnesses to call, but would ask at this stage that Champion be discharged. There had been a mistake, ho submitted, in tho identification of defendant The Bench considered that there was a doubt about the matter, and dismissed the information against Champion. - Case Against Mann, Giving evidence in the case of Mnnn, Conductor Scoble said that tho crowd was calling witness and the motorman "scoundrels." "mongrels," and other disgusting epithets. Mann indirectly caused the trouble by rinsing the bell. Witness ordered Mnnn off the car, but in response to the cries of the crowd Mnnn returned and the passengers proceeded to congratulate him by shaking hands. Other tramway officials gave evidence as to the state of Hie passengers and tho action of defendant. Mann gave evidence on his own behalf He said that ho rang the bell thinking that the tram was movine. He desired it to stop at Ahcl Smith Street. Ho claimed that he had exnlnihed this in the conductor. He denied having caused any obstruction and said that the allegations niado against him were "lies." The Bench expressed the opinion that Mann was encouraged by the crowd.. He would be convicted and ordered to pay cost?, ,£3 7s ' ' Mr. O'Shea explained that it was not Mnnn that the prosecution desired to get. The authorities wero "after the Aro Street crowd."