A Diepute over Wages at the Point Hotel D. Sposit, a musician at the Point Hotel, wafs charged on remand before Messrs. Tsang, Tvanoff and King at the Mixed Court last Friday with creating a disturbance at the hotel and being in possession of dangerous army. Mr. H. D. Rodger appeared for Mr. Hannings, the manager of the hotel.
According to the complaining witness, he returned to the hotel at about noon on Monday. On the verandah were the defendant and other musicians. Defendant said, "Mr. Hannings, 1 want my salary." Witness said, ''Yes, all right." There was one week's salary due to the man He should have had it on Saturday. He was told that he would be paid during the day, because at the moment witness had no money. Defendant had only been working for a week. On the verandah he appeared to be very restless. Finally he took something out of his pocket which appeared to be a gun. He slammed a hatchet on the table. Witness immediately telephoned for the police. In the defendant's hand was a knuckle duster.
Defendant—I was not wearing a knuckle duster. It was in my possession. laid it on the table.
The No. i Boy corroborated, save that he disagreed with Mr. Hannings that Sposit had anything on hits hand.
The defendant, in evidence, stated that he had worked for Hannings previously. Sposit admitted that he spoke about smashing the piano, but he had never threatened the complainant with the knuckle duster and only threatened injury to the piano.
cross-examination he was asked why he wore the hatchet in its case and carried a knuckle sister, Defendant—Because people frequently get drunk at the hotel and make a lof of trouble. - Mr. Hannings, I knew, was a_ fighter. I was afraid of him. He said last Friday that he would shoo The complainant \said that with reference to the agreement with the musician, if he fulfilled the contract properly he was to receive $100 as a bonus. Otherwise it would be part of his salary, A musician who went into Mannings' service on the same date as the defendant, said that on Saturday night the complainant signed a paper to the effect that he was personally responsible for defendant's, and hiis own wages All the members of the orchestra were waiting to meet their employer on his return on Monday morning when he said he was waiting for some one to come the hotel from Seth, Mancel MecLure's offices. When asked for his wages, Mr. Hannings said he had no money. Sposit got angry, produced his hatchet, which was wrapped in a newspaper, and said "Now I am going to get my money" That was all he did. When the police arrived Hannings said defendant wanted to murder him or something like that. Upon the defendant being searched the knuckle duster was found on him. He had never taken it out of his pocket Mr. Rodger.—You agree that the $100 was paid to Sposit?
Witness—Yes.
Counsel informed the Bench that the complainant did not wish the defendant to be dealt with harshly.
Defendant was discharged with a caution.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.