REFUSED TO PAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 9

REFUSED TO PAY

TRAM CONDUCTOR HAS TROUBLE OLD MAN FINED Because lie thought he teas being asked to pay his fare twice, Charles William Speechley stood on his dignity in a Ponsonby tram-car yesterday. Speechley, a labourer, aged 72, appeared at the Police Court this morning, charged with being drunk and with attempting to evade payment of his. fare on a tramcar. Asked how he pleaded, Speechley admitted being drunk, but denied the second charge. “I wouldn’t do such a thing as evade a fare," he declared. “The conductor wanted to charge me twice." Mr. F. K. Hunt: Oh, the man was just drunk and forgot. Sub-Inspector Shanahan said there was more in it than that. Speechley had made a nuisance of himself. Edward James Bentley, conductor, said he had asked Speechley for his fare and the man had produced a ticket that had been punched before. “Well, I must have thought I paid,” said Speechley. "He should have made certain,” said witness. “He was given plenty of chances to pay, but wouldn’t. 1 had to draw the tram up at a police station and give him in charge.”

Mr. Hunt: He had the fare all right, but he was just obstinately drunk.

On the charge of drunkenness, Speechley was fined 5s and on the second charge, he was ordered to pay costs and the twopenny fare.