NEIGHBORS DISAGREE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 6

NEIGHBORS DISAGREE.

COMPLAINTS OF INSULTING LANGUAGE. ■ A CASE FROM MOTUROA. "Just because I started selling drinks you must do the same, you Getman . I will pitch you over the side. I will pitch your father and mother over the side, too." Stanley Rielly, a boy of thirteen years, complained to Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday that these words had been used to him by Charles W. Williams, a shopkeeper at Moturoa, on the wharf at Moturoa on Monday afternoon, and the boy's father therefdre laid a charge against Williams of using "indecent, profane and obscene language," Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for the complainant and Mr. D. Hutchen for Williams, who pleaded not guilty. The boy told the Court that he was walking down the wharf carrying some ginger beer for men working on the steamer Petone, when he was accosted by Williams, who used the words complained of. Mr. Hutchen: Your parents quarrel with their neighbors, don't they?

Witness: No. Mr. Hutchen: Have they not been in any quarrels ? Witness: Yes; but we didn't cause them.

Mr. Hutchen: They are very bitter against Williams, aren't they?

Witness: No. The defendant Williams then went in;o the box.

Mr. Hutchen: Your next-door neighbors are

Witness: Very quarrelsome. Mr. Hutchen: I don't mean that; I wanted to know who they are. Witness: Oh, the Riellys. Witness added that the Riellys wen always troublesome, and he had adopted the attitude of taking no notice of them. He denied that he spoke to tnu boy on the wharf and used the words complained of. Grace Low said she saw the boy going along the wharf on Monday afternoon, and she saw Williams approach from the opposite direction and stop the boy. YVilliams appeared to speak to the boy angrily, and he pointed to the edge of the wharf. As the boy walked away Williams walked after him and lifted his hand. There was no further e.vidence and the Magistrate dismissed the information without prejudice.