SOLDIERS’ CHAMPION

Taihape Daily Times, 26 February 1919, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ CHAMPION

GIRL FIGHTS FOR ANSAC BROTHER. Broken Hill, N.S.W. . In the Police Court, two young girls wore the principals in assault proceed ings. The complainant alleged that on November 14 (the day on which there were street combats between returned soldiers and men wearing red ribbons in their coats) she w r as standing outside a dancing hall when she heard that the organisers of the dance had decided to postpone it owing to the high feeling existing between returned soldiers and the “Reds.”

The complainant said to the defendant, ‘ ‘ That is those silly soldiers who are the cause of this.” The defendant said, “Don’t say that, call the soldiers gentlemen.” The complainant is then alleged to have said “It is some of those wasters of soldiers who have never smelled powder.” The defendant replied, “No, it is those Red Baggers.” At this the plaintiff remarked, “No, it is those soldiers. They are all mongrels and wasters.” Defendant replied, “Don’t call my brother a mongrel and waster,” and thereupon made a hit at the plaintiff. The plaintiff said that she was hit in the face twice with the fist, and the defendant said that her blows did not take effect. That was the first phase of the trouble.

On December 2 the plaintiff and the defendant met again on the gaol reserve. The defendant asked the plaintiff if she was going to apologise for what she had said about the solhiers, and the defendant replied/ ‘No neither you nor the soldiers are of much account.’ ’ The girls tFen had a good “go in, ”accordihg to the defendant, and the row ended very even, though she might have had slightly the best of it. One of the witnesses for the prosesution said that the defendant had much the best of what he saw of the fight. The magistrate said tthat he was satisfied that there had been a technical assault on the first occasion but the defendant was acting in the interests of her soldier brother, so He would only inflict a. fine of Is, with 10s costs. The second charge,- in re speet of the assault on December 2, was dismissed.

The soldiers ’ Ichampion when/ she heard the verdict of the court, addressed her mother: “ Mother, will you lend me a shilling until I pay this fine?” The complainant was 15 years of age and the defendant 16 years of age.