TALK OF MUSSOLINI

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 213, 9 October 1929, Page 5

TALK OF MUSSOLINI

.. ,« INSULTING LANGUAGE ALLEGED. ? — ■■ BUSINESS MAN IN TROUBLE. -[ At the Hastings Magistrate's Court ■a this morning before Mr A. M. Mowlem, ■# S.M., George Wai lace Knox was cliarg- ■ ed, with, 011 July 4, usiug insulting "i language in Heretaunga street. V The accused was represeuted by Mr "i Hallett and pleaded not guilty. % Senior-Sergeaut Dempsey said that l lat" on the evening of July 4, defen- ■ dant and another anan enteO'ed a « restaurant, and in consequence of what Ji happened one was asked to leave and (i the other was put out. i Mansoor Joseph, restaurant proprieji tor. tsated that on the night » in question, at abont 10.30 o'cloc-k, 1 the two men came in and 1 asked liim how Mr Mussolini ji was getting 011. Witness told them ,■ that he was only there to serve them, ,■ but they refused to be attended to. . The accused then used the language mentioned. They were threatened with - the police and told that they were half drunk. Accused wanted to fight. k In answer to Mr Hallett, witness said he did not touch accused. His son did not jostle „tiie men. He denied that he struc-k anyone that night. Gabriel Joseph, a son of the previous witness, was present at the time of the incident and said that the twc men started trying to talk in French. Oue of the men asked witness his nationality and -witness replied that he was French. Thi's reply started the men "acting the goat." and when a gramophone started they wanted to dance. An argument started concerning nationality and when the men's order was refused they were asked to go outside. Then ou'the footpath, the argument continuecl and the insulting language was used. In answer to Mr Hallett. witness said that defendant- was not insulting in the restaurant. There was no undne delay in getting the order ready. In the restaurant, it was the other man who was swearing, ancl then witness refusecl to serve them and ordered them out. Defendant went out without trouble, but it was outside that he used the words complained of. The defence was a complete denial of any mishehavlour, or anv nse of the insulting language. In evidence, witnesj said he told .Joseph to "Shake it -up, Mussolini," and Joseph did not like the remark. Witness then saw the possihility of trouble and got out as soon as he could. Outside, however, Joseph rushed him and struck at hiin. All the time, witness and_ his companion were trying to paeiFv Joseph anfl were not looking for trouble. To Se.nior-SergAant Demnsey. witness said that l>e and In's frieud were quite sober. His friend was a Mr Austin. He admitted that this was the first time he had mentioned Mr Austin's name and that he had not diselosed' the name to tlie police. His Worship said tTiat he was satisfierl that the evidence was more than snfbcient to prove defendant guilty, and a fine of £2, costs £1 6s, was rnflicted'. -