A BIBLICAL DISCUSSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 6 February 1915, Page 5

A BIBLICAL DISCUSSION.

ENDS IN CRIMINAL COURT. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, William Edward John Maguire was charged with threatening behaviour in Rattray street on January a, whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned.

lAfter this case had been heard, the Magistrate instructed the police to lay an information against Jonathan Alexis O'Brien of using insulting words in a public place, With intent to provoke a breach of the peace. It was alleged that O'Brien had been struck by Maguire after the latter had been provoked, Maguire was called as a principal witness to give evidence against O'Brien, but declined to do so, and after numerous opportunities given by the Magistrate to reconsider his decision, he was finally committed to prison for seven days. The origin of the trouble was a discussion over the Bible-in-schools question. Maguire was the Social Democrat candidate for the Dunedin seat at the general election. MAGUIRE RELEASED. Dunedin, Last Night. A fresh development with regard to the Maguire case occurred at the Police Court this afternoon. In the morning Maguire refused to give evidence against O'Brien, who was charged with using insulting words with intent to provoke a breacli of the peace, and was seritenccd to seven days' imprisonment for contempt of Court. In the afternoon O'Brien pleaded guilty, and was fined £2, in default one week's imprisonment. The Magistrate sent for Maguire, and informed him that, as O'Brien had pleaded guilty, the necessity for his detention had disappeared, and the warrant for his commitment was cancelled, but Maguire was warned that defiance of the Court could not be tolerated. He was allowed seven days to pay the fine imposed in the morning.