MIDNIGHT FRACAS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 520, 2 May 1933, Page 6

MIDNIGHT FRACAS

SEQUEL IN COURT MAN FOLLOWS GIRL AND ESCORT AND FIGHT FOLLOWS SCUFFLE AFTER A DANCE The story of how a girl had two strings to her bow, in other words two swains to see her home after a dance and the position led to a fight, was retailed to Mr. S. L. Paterson S.M., in the Rotorua Court yesterday. Senior-S'ergeant Carroll for the police, charged Phillip Hodge and Tom Lodge with fighting in a public place. Hodge pleaded guilty and Lodge not guilty. The Senior-Sergeant said that this was a case of a fight after a dance and appeared to be a case where both men tried to take the same girl home, and had decided to settle the matter with their fists. HeartJ a Scuffle Constable Andrews gave evidence that soon after midnight on April 2 he heard a scuffle in front of a boardinghouse and heard men gasping for breath. Flashing his torch on the scene he discovered Lodge out of breath and with blood on his hand whilst another man, Hodge was going across the road. When questioned, Lodge told him that he had had a fight with Hodge. Hodge said that Lodge had called him an opprobious name.

• After some questionmg it was found that a girl was involved and Lodge told him that he had taken the girl home after a dance and Hodge had come upon the scene and a fight had ensued. Lodge had been quite straightforward and had answered the questions freely. Shielded the Girl

To Mr. J. D. Davys, who appeared for Lodge: Witness had not seen a blow struck, but saw Hodge with his hands up. Both men had tried to shield the girl. Lodge said that Hodge had dogged their footsteps home and had interfered with them at the gate. Lodge showed no signs of liquor. Mr. Davys said that Lodge had met the girl at a dance and had taken her home. When they got to the gate of the place at which she lived, Hodge ran out and grabbed the girl. Lodge had turned to her and had asked her, "Do you want to go with him." She 'said, "No," and Lodge put a halfNelson on Hodge and released the girl. As soon as he let Hodge go, Hodge gave him a crack on the jaw. Counsel said that Lodge contended that he only did what any man would do and was justified in his action. Hit Him on Jaw

Lodge gave evidence much on the •lines of counsel's address. Hodge, he said, had grabbed the girl brutally and made her cry and call out. When ■ witness had released her he told her to get her bag and get into the house. When he let Hodge go Hodge cracked him on the jaw. Witness only det f ended himself when the constable came along. To the police: He had only def ended himself.

The girl mentioned m the case, m evidence, said that she had gone home from the dance escorted by Lodge ,and at her gate Hodge stepped out of the alleyway and grabbed her by the arai trying to drag her away. She did not want to go and pulled away. ■Lodge asked her if she wanted to go and she told him she did not. Lodge ^them freed her and did so in the only way possible, since words were ithen of no avail. She was not hurt but got her purse from a car and and went straight into the house. She went at once to the window and saw the two men with the constable. The bench dismissed the £harge .-against Lodge. ■ Hodge was convicted and placed upon probation for 12 months; con•ditions imposed being that he take i out a prohibition order against himi self and attend no public dances.