Train Journey Ends in Police Cells

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 8

Train Journey Ends in Police Cells

THREE WELLINGTON MEN APPEAR IN COURT. The story of a train journey from Wellington to Palmerston North on Wednesday night which ended, for three men from tho capital city, in the police cells instead of a hotel, was told in tho Palmerston North Magistrate'f Court yesterday, when Messrs. J. u. Bosworth and W. Low Black, J.P.'s., were on the Bench. Ivan Perry, aged 24, of Wellington, a shepherd; Kenneth Davies, aged 20, of Lower Hutt, labourer, and Arthur Simpson, aged 23, of Lower Hutt, were each charged with being idle and disorderly iu tho train while drunk, while Simpson was c.Uarged with deliberately committing mischief by breaking a window of a carriage, valued at 15s. All pleaded guilty. Tho trio first drew attention to themselves, said Senior-Sergeant Mclntyre, at Pukerua Bay, where Simpson, walking up and down the platform, was behaving in a disorderly manner. Stopping outside one carriage of the train, he remarked: "Hullo, fellow, I think 1 know you. 77 Then, with his clenched list, he struck at the window, smashng it. Constable Arnold, of Palmerston North, who happened to be travelling on the same train, accosted Simpson, who refused to disclose his name. Subsequently one of his companions told the constable who he was.

Returning to their carriage, the three young meu disturbed passengers with their noisy talk and rude behaviour. They opened bottles and were drinking freely. At various stations they per formed drunken antics on the platforms. But they happened to be in the same carriage as the constable, who finally arrested them. Mr. Bosworth: Do you think you cau fill up with drink and do as you like? "It wasn't exactly that, 77 explained Simpson, who admitted, however, that they had had a little too much drink. Mr. Boswofth: Aud mixed at that, 1 expect. The three were each fined £2, in default one month in prison on the charge of disorderly conduct. Simpson was lined an additional £1 for breaking the window, and ordered to make good the damage. His request that the names of the three be suppressed, and that they be given time in which to find the money, was refused.