WINDOW SMASHING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1915, Page 8

WINDOW SMASHING.

TIIK IXCIIiKXT AT HALIJiXSTKIX'S. ■XKYV PLYMOUTH AJAX FIXED £5. At the Magistrate's Court vestcrdav, licl'or,. IMr. A.'Crooke. S.M.. Ttnmild ipaiil was charged with throwing a missile and damaging t-lie promises of llallcnstoin Bros, on May 'l7. Sub-Inspector J'onliy conducted tiie case for the 'jK' l " o - l)-tr-.T. 11. Oiiilliam appearing for accused. Edith Lambert ga've evidence tliat slip knew the. accused Paul and saw him on the night of May 17 outside, JTallonstein Pros.' premises. iShe was returning home from tlie patriotic, concert in company with her two sisters and Miss Johnston and her mother. She saw Paul throw a missile at the window of Ifallensjem Pros.' premises. "He was with several other fellows. They were walking n'liroast, with defendant, who was weaving a Mack hard felt hat, nearest tile window.

Puby Lambert and Helen Johnston gave corroborative evidence. (Mr. Quilliam said defendant occupied a responsible position in the town, being a partner in the. firr.i of 'Messrs Jackson and Paul, and in common with many other people was in the town that evenins "to see the fun," as would almost every other law-abiding citizen if he knew there was going to lie a riot. Tlie young girls' evidence hail been very consistent,' too parrot-like, in fact. Thev were all verv certain accused was wearing a hard felt hat, while accused would swear that lie was wearing a liglrtcoloreil soft felt hat. Accused would not commit perjury to esea'pe the trilling penalty his ''Worship would probably inllict, but he wished to prove that he did not. commit the offence as alleged.

Ronald 'Paul said that on the evening in question he, with several communions, was walking in the town and passed ITallenstein's .premises four times. He threw nothing at the window and neither did his companions. Davidson was walking nearest the window when they passed, lie (accused) had always dealt with Ilallcnstein's. and continued to do so after the war. lie did not know tliat the window was broken until the.next morning. He was accompanied by Davidson, li. Jury, ■Bull. Simpson and Robson. He was wearing a light felt hat that evening. Ronald Davidson said he was with accused all the evening of May 17 and saw no bottle thrown nor heard of one being thrown. If Paul had thrown a 'bottle at ■llnllenistein's window he (witness) was hound to have heard it, hut he heard nothing. John Simpson corroborated. Paul could not have thrown a ; bottlo at Hallenstein's window without his knowledge, and he saw nothing of such an occurrence. The (Magistrate said he had to judge between the evidence of the g'.'rls and the witnesses for the defence. If he did hot convict defendant he would have to hold that the girls had committed perjury. .Mr. Quilliam: And if you do Paul is placed in the same position. His Worship said the position accused held in the town made his offence the worse. He would he convicted and fined £5.