ILL-TIMED APPLAUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3327, 20 September 1911, Page 5

ILL-TIMED APPLAUSE.

INCIDENT AT COURT. A HALF-HOUR’S DETENTION. A rather unusual incident occurred at*the Supreme Court yesterday. After a jury had brought- in a- verdict of not guilty” in the Waerenga-a-lnka case several persons at the back of the Court commenced to applaud by clapping then hands. The outburst was quickly suppressed by the police. A. few minutes later, after His Honor .had delivered a little homily to the accused men before discharging them, an individual began to stamp the floor with, his foot, a proceeding that was quickly taken exception to by His Honor, who asked that the man, if he could be found, should be brought before him. The police soon located the man who gave his name as Ties. Wm. Richmond Kiernan. , . , . „ His Honor: Have you been drinkingr Kiernan: Yes. I have been drinking. His Honor: Did yon not hear the caution about making a noise. _ Kiernan: I don’t think so, sir. His Honor: What reason have you to offer why I should not. send you to prison for contempt of court and for making such a disgraceful exhibition ot vourself. Kiernan: I cannot explain any reason. In reply to a question Constable Doyle said Kiernan had apparently been drinking. There was nothing known against the man and he was a strangei here. His Honor ordered the man to be removed to the prisoners’ room, and about half an hour later discharged him, aftetr pointing out that he had to behave himself when in Court.