An Auckland Lawyer in Trouble.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 243, 5 January 1889, Page 3

An Auckland Lawyer in Trouble.

disturbing a gospel temperance MEETING.

Joseph O’Meagher, the well-known solicitor, appeared at the Police Court, Auckland, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly in Queen street on December 28. Accused pleaded no guilty.—The arresting constable said he saw the accused ejected from the Temperance Tent into Queen street. He was fearfully ex cited, and spoke loudly, and attempted to go back into the Tent. He said the temperance people were cowards, scoundrels, and psalm singers. He would not be pacified, and tried to strike one man. He was intoxicated, and tremulous from excitement.—John Mo-b, a gymnastic instructor, deposed that accused came into the Tent under the influence of drink and made use of annoying words tending to upset the speakers. When remonstrated with he left the Tent, but soon returned provided with a penny trumpet, which he blew several times. A sailor from the Orlando took the trumpet away from him twice, and when he attempted to do a > the third time the prisoner became abusive, and had to be ejected. While a person was epeak ing defendant asked for permission to speak, and was told he might do so wnen the other speaker had concluded.—Mr O’Meagher: Had not his concluding remarks reference to the death of a publican? — Witness: No.—Mr O‘Meagher: Did I not say, "Mr Chairman, if the foundation for this meeting is the Gospel, I am greatly surprised that any man should come here and appear to rejoice in the death of anyone, either publican or sinner; it is contrary to my knowledge of the teaching of the Gospel, and ought not to be permitted ”? —Witness: Something to that effect. -Mr O’Meagher: And was I not app auded ? — Witness: I rather imagine not.—Jonathan Tonson Garlick deposed that he saw the defendant in the Temperance Tent on Friday night. Defendant rose and put his hat on, and made the most hideous noise with his mouth. He took’fc musical instrument from his pocket and played some Irish airs upon it (laughter). Defendant threatened to strike witness, when the latter asked him to sit down.—Mr O’Meagher: Did not a speaker appear to rejoice at the death of some publican ?—Witness : He did not speak in that strain at all.—Mr 0 Meagher : Can you say which was the Irish air I played ?—Witness : I am not musical enough for that.—Mr O’Meagher : And yet you know it was an .Irish air. Perhaps it was so horrible that you thought it must be Irish ?—Witness: I suppose so.—W. R. Cook, who conducted the temperance meeting, stated that defendant came into the Tent and asked for permission to speak, which was granted. Defendant, who was under the influence of drink, spoke in , favor of moderation, and then left the tent/ When he ret urned he was a good deal the worse for liquor. He took his helmet off. knocked the crown in,’and blew a musical instrument, creating a disturbance. Defendant threatened to punch Mr Garlick in the eye, accompanying his threat with an adjective or two.—Constable K-lso deposed that when defendant was brought to the watch-house he was very excited, and said he was delighted to be locked up—Mr O’Meagher said he went into the Temperance Tent and sat down for a while. An elderly man stood up and rejoiced in the death of a publican. He (Mr O’Meagher) thought he was only doing his duty as a man in challenging this statement, and he was applauded. He then went out. He had no liquor while he was away from the Tent. He was excited and angry at what had been said, and when he was ejected used angry words, and was locked up. He endured such agony of mind that he did not know what he did in the cell. He remained in the cell until 8 o’clock next morning, and therefore thought he had suffered enough in the cause of Gospel Temperance.—The Magistrate held it was proved that the defendant was intoxicated, and fined him 20s and costs, with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment.