“A BIT FLUSTERED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 913, 5 March 1930, Page 1

“A BIT FLUSTERED”

WOMAN OMITS TO PAY TRAM FARE MAN ALSO CHARGED “I was a bit flustered,” explained Florence Sowden, pleading guilty by letter, to a charge of evading payment of tram fare, brought against her in tiie Magistrate’s Court this morning. She was fined £1 with costs, and solicitor’s fee, totalling £1 Os 6d Mr. Butler, appearing for the Transport Board, said the woman had boarded a Mount Albert tram in Symonds Street. An inspector had got on at Page’s Store, Kingsland, and discovered that Sowden had no ticket. When asked where she had got on the tram she said first she had got cn at Page's Store, and when that was disproved, suggested Newmarket. She had eventually admitted getting on at Symonds Street, but gave a false address. There was no appearance of Eric McKenzie, who was similarly charged. He was fined 30s and costs totalling £ 1 10s 6d by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. McKenzie, said counsel, had been on a Remuera tram when an inspector discovered he had no ticket. He had fumbled in his pocket, producing several old tickets, and then gave two false addresses, and did not give his correct address until a policeman was called at Newmarket. Evidence of the offence was given by the conductor, who added that on a previous occasion he had noticed McKenzie without a ticket. The man had given witness a false address.