State v. Caruso

Some years ago, a Britisher by the name of Cyril Smith recorded a monologue entitled, “How Fights Start in Saloons.” Every tavern-keeper and bartender learns from bitter enough experiences that minor irritations can escalate into serious situations. Often enough the police, summoned to quiet the disturbance, themselves become the target of the combativeness of the disturbers.

Here a group, of which the defendant was one, entered the tavern. Feeling their oats, they used obscene language directed to other patrons, and generally behaved in a loud and boisterous manner. Trouble was wisely…