ASSAULT ON RAILWAY PORTER
While under the influence of liquor, William James Whitla made himself very obnoxious on the train from port to Christchurch on Wednesday evening. He did not produce his ticket on demand, but instead used obscene language to the assistant-guard. This was in a first-class carriage, and when the porter asked him to leave, he remonstrated, used more language, and struck the porter twice. Evidence to this effect was given by the guard, the assistant-guard, and the porter in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Whitla pleaded guilty to all the charges except that of using obscene language, and this he did not remember. For using obscene language, the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. For assault he was convicted and sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour, and on the charges of failing to produce his ticket and being found drunk he was convicted and discharged. (The Press, 23 March 1928, p. 3)
So, obscene language was worse than physical assault in those days?
Caroline Anderson
Some words of mitigation from the defence:
1. He’s Irish
2. He was probably suffering from PTSS as he was wounded at Passchendaele on Oct. 12 1917 (Canterbury Regiment, NZEF)
3. He really shouldn’t have accepted the seventh whiskey, but felt it rude to decline the offer.
"A possible relative."
Speaking of notorious relatives, I’m afraid I recognize the offending cyclist under "Magistrates Court" in The Press, 2 March 1911, Page 8