FESTIVE FOOTBALLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2296, 15 September 1908, Page 2

FESTIVE FOOTBALLERS.

CHARGE OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

At the Police Co-art yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., a young man mimed George Paul was charged with disorderly conduct in the Waerenga-a-hika Hotel on August/ 29th, and with refusing to leave the premises when rcouestod to do so. Defendant was represented by Mr. G. Stock, and Sergeant Hutton conducted the prosecution. Almon Clements, licensee of the hotel, said that defendant was in tho hotel on August 29th, from about 8.30 p.m. until just before 10 p.m., in company with a number of others. The crowd became rather rowdy, and defendant, who appeared to bo tho leader,- Wanted the others to sing .songs, etc. In spite of witness it interference they continued to be noisy, and eventually a table was ..knocked over and broken. Witness twice told defendant to leave the premises, but each time he refused. Witness later put him out several times, but he again returned to the premises. Defendant was quite sober. To Mr. Stock: There were sixteen iii the party, and they were all ill one room. 'None of the party were drunk, and they only had two drinks in the hotel. He thought they were members of a football team. . To Sergt. Hutton : He knew that to allow such conduct would bo to damage the reputation of his house. Mrs. Clements gave similar evidence, and stated that defendant used insulting remarks to her and her husband. She had no ill-will towards defendant. None of the party were drunk. She, with her husband’s assistance, put defendant out of the hotel.

Harry Ogden said t-liat he was iu the hotel on the night in question, and heard the licensee threaten to put defendant out of the house if he did not mako loss row. Mr Clements, however, did not tell defendaut- to leave. Mrs. Clements came along later and put defendant out. Defendant was quite sober, and witness did not hear any bad language. No unruly conduct took place after the licensee objected. He was quite positive that defendant, was liot ordered out of tho hotel. Further corroborative evidence was given by /Samuel Pardoe,Alfred CPSuliivan, Geo. Brown, and Janies Mills, and in examination by Sergeant Hutton the information was elicited that they had been playing football at Patutahi that day. Defendant stated that thirteen of the party went to the hotel on the night- of the 29th, and stayed for about, half-an-hour. ' There was some singing, but-'lie did not suggest it. After the team had given their war-, cry the licensee told liim to stop the noise or he would bo put out-. The noise was stopped at once, but Mr. Clements endeavored to put him out of the hotel, and he'offered no resistance. No bad language was used, and neither Mr. or Mrs. Clements told him to leave.

•After commenting on the conflicting nature of the evidence. His Worship said that he was quite satisfied there had been disorderly behaviour in the house, and the licensee would have been perfectly justified in putting them all out-. From the evidence he did not think that defendant could have been asked to leave the premises. The -information would therefore be dismissed.