MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1943, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SITTING IN MASTERTON DISTURBANCE IN HOTEL BAR. SOLDIER ON FURLOUGH FINED. The fortnightly sitting of the Masterton Magistrate’s Court was held this morning. Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. On charges of having refused to leave licensed premises at Tinui whenrequested by the licensee, of having used indecent language in a public place and damaging Constable Beck’s cardigan, Private James Leeming, 2nd N.Z. E.F., was fined a total of £8 10s. Senior-Sergeant C. Murphy said that Loaning and some friends purchased a quantity of liquor from the hotel at Tinui and later returned. The licensee’s wife saw that they were drunk aijd shut down the bar. She refused to supply them but they declined to leave the premises and were singing in the bar parlour. Constable Beck arrived struggle ensued with Leeming. Leeming tore the constable’s cardigan before he was ejected and used bad language in the street. Leeming later called on the constable with a view to having the matter dropped, and when the constable refused, became abusive. Leeming was a returned soldier on furlough from the Middle East and had served for over 31 years. Mr. J. Macfarlane Laing said that it was unfortunate that a soldier with an unblemished record should appear in Court and on behalf of Leeming he expressed his regret and offered to pay for the cost of the damage to the cardigan. James Edward Snell (Mr. H. H. Daniell) was fined £1 10s and 12s costs on a charge of having failed to give way to another vehicle on his right. Senior-Sergeant C. Murphy said that

the charge was the result of an accident at the corner of Dixon Street and Worksop Road.