INDECENT LANGUAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2787, 20 September 1924, Page 2

INDECENT LANGUAGE.

TWO OFFENDERS FINED.

In consequence of a complaint laid to the police last month, Arthur Smith, licensee of the Post Office Hotel, was charged with using indecent language in a public place, ar yesterday’s S. M. Court.

Mr Bprgin appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. W. Neville gave evidence that on the 18th August he was in Messrs D. W. Robertson's shop at about 1 p.m. While there he heard accused use the words complained.of in the charge. He heard him say “Come on home, yon ginger- whiskered old ro take you to the police station.” His attention was attracted by the voice and he saw accused and a man named Frank Spiers. He knew both men well by sight. The latter appeared to be fairly drunk and the former half intoxicated. P. .T. Jack, who was also in the shop at the time, and heard the language referred to used, also gave eorroborat ive evidence. D. IV. Robertson gave corroboiv a rive evidence and said he saw both men from the shop. He knew them both fairly well. Smith was speaking in a loud voice. There was also a woman in the shop at the time. Constable Ryan gave evidence as to interviewing Smith a week after the occurrence when he had informed witness that on the day in question his barman, Spiers, had had a day off and had had more drink than was good for him. He admitted to witness that he had taken Spiers home but denied using the language complained of. Mr Bergin outlined the case for defendant at length. In evidence Smith said that Spiels came into his hotel about dinner time, about half intoxicated and (old him a story about two Maoris named Ellers and Hakaraia calling him (Spiers) “ a ginger whisered old while at the Family Hotel. Witness tried to take Spiers home and outside Robertson’s shop lie* repeated the words that the. Maoris had told him to witness. Witness did not use the words complained of. Constable Owen: Why did you not tell Constable Ryan that it was Spiers who used the words complained of wherf he interviewed you?

Frank Spiers, barman-porter at the Post Office Hotel, said that he had used the words complained of. lie repeated the story about the Maori using the words to him and said that he was “half stunned.” The words hurt him and he kept repeating them to Smith, who took him home. He left, the Family Hotel after the Maoris had called him the names referred to as he did not want any trouble. The S.M. said that the three witnesses for the prosecution had all given'evidence as to Smith using the language, and they were all men of repute. Had Spiers said the words, as he said he did, he would hardly have told himself to “come along or he would take him to the police station.” He hardly thought it possible that the witnesses would make a mistake in the voices. If both men bad spoken they would have noticed the difference, as one was half intoxicated. He was of opinion that Smith had got annoyed at Spiers’ obstinacy when he was taking him home mul had used the language. Defendant was convicted and fined £2 with costs 13/-. .fames Kiriona, on a charge of using indecent language in Avenue Rd. mid who pleaded guilty, was con- \ icted and fined £2 with 7/- costs.