BOOTS AND FISTS FLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 568, 22 January 1929, Page 1

BOOTS AND FISTS FLY

FIGHT OUTSIDE HOTEL 18TH OFFENCE COSTS £5 Boots as well as fists played an important part in an argument between John Ryan and William Robert Mountfield last evening. Ryan, a fireman aged 34, and Mountfield, a traveller aged 37. were charged at the Police Court this morning with fighting in the railway entrance. Ryan’s memory could not carry him back 16 hours. so he pleaded ignorance of the whole affair; Mountfield pleaded not guilty. Constable Mathieson described the scuffle, of which he was an interested witness. The first thing he saw was when Mountfield fell on his back on the pavement. He got up and rushed at Ryan, who sidestepped him neatly. Mountfield unsuccessfully essayed a kick at his burly opponent, and witness thought it was time for him to take a hand. Both men had had a few drinks. Mountfield’s explanation was that Ryan had insulted him and knocked him down in the hotel. He had gone out to complain to a constable, and Ryan, who was waiting for him. attacked him again. Ryan has piled up 17 convictions for fighting and so on during the last 12 months.” commented Sub-Inspector McCarthy . All he does is to wander dbwn Queen Street every evening looking for trouble and he always finds it would suggest that he take out a’ prohibition order.” Ryan made no explanation but stoutly denied that he had ever been icted for fighting in the street. K U W * H ( McKe an. S.M.. preferred to believe the man’s list and imposed a T^ e ° ln default one month. the case against Mountfield was dismissed, the magistrate remarking that the man should not have gone on with the quarrel.