FINE OF TEN POUNDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 20, 15 May 1914, Page 3

FINE OF TEN POUNDS.

FOR “LANGUAGE” USED ON THE TOKO TRAIN.

John Buchanan was charged at tiie Court to-day with having been drunk, behaved violently and used obscene language on the east branch train on the night of April 11th. Horatio W. Dixon, railway guard, said that on the night in question accused, used obscene language when witness demanded his ticket. At Hniroa lie had his coat oh' and was offering to light somebody. Sergeant McXeely said accused came to town every Saturday and as often as he came to town he got drunk. He behaved himself very well in town but once he got on the train he became a nuisance. On the present occasion, very soon after the train started, accused bad his legs round the neck of a passenger. Eighteen months ago accused had been convicted of drunkenness and refusing to leave licensed premises, and last December he had bqen convicted for drunkenness at Whangamomona. The S.M. said it was some time since he had bad a similar case. Previously he had inflicted heavy penalties and some improvement was noticeable. The use of obscene language in trains had to bo stopped. The only way to give people a lesson was to give some offender a heavy sentence. Accused seemed to get into trouble through drink, and he might escape much trouble if he would take out a prohibition older. Sergt. .McXeely said the obscene language was used in a very loud voice, and when the train stopped could be heard all over the train, on which there were wrimen and children. Accused: There wore no women near the carriage. I am sorry this has occurred and. I assure you it will not occur again. The S.M. said he would inflict a fine of £lO, with witnesses’ expenses £1 Is (id, Accused would he convicted and discharged on the other two charges. This was lenient treatment, and his first inclination was to have inflicted a sentence of imprisonment.