FLYING “HALF-HANDLES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 13

FLYING “HALF-HANDLES”

ENRAGED DRINKER BREAKS MIRROR JUST MISSES BARMAN Not seven years’, but eight weeks’ bad luck attended the breaking of a large mirror by John Fitzgereid on Thursday. Fitzgerald threw a heavy mug, known as a half-handle, at an hotel barman, but hit the mirror instead. Fitzgerald, a labourer aged 29, pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to wilfully damaging a mirror valued at £7 10s, and a glass mug valued at 2s. He also admitted assaulting Michael Leydon. “A few days ago Fitzgerald was mixed up in an affair in a city hotel,” said Sub-Inspector McCarthy. “Yesterday he went into the same hotel while under the influence of liquor. The barman refused to serve him and reminded him of the former incident. Fitzgerald caught up a heavy glass mug (produced), called a half-handle, threw it at the barman, first reaching out and trying to hit him. The mug missed the barman, splintering a big mirror behind him. The sub-inspector thought it better that the mug should have gone through the mrror than through the barman's head. “Fighting and assault is Fitzgerald’s specialty,” concluded Mr. McCarthy. “He has 29 previous convictions.”

Fitzgerald was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment on the first charge, and six weeks for the assault.