ASSAULT ON POLICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 28, 13 November 1934, Page 6

ASSAULT ON POLICE

ASHBURTON MAN CHARGED. FAMILY DRIVEN FROM HOMEJ CONSTABLE SUFFERS CUT LIP. "The defendant is a good husband and he is good to his family when he is sober, but when he is under the influenco of duink he goes mad," said Sergeant W. T. Kelly in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court this morning when Norman Maedonald Aitken, a married man, with eleven of a family, residing in Beach Road, Avas charged with having assaulted Constable T. W. Round in the execution of his duty, a charge to which he pleaded guilty. Sergeant 'Kelly said that Aitken had been working in a relief camp and returned to his home on Thursday evening, to spend the .week-end here. lie had been drunk ever since. His family were> frightened of him when he was intoxicated and they had had to leave the house. As a result of a complaint which reached the police, Constable Round was sent to the house and he succeeded in quietening defendant. Some time later, however. Constable Round had to make a second visit to the house.

As he reached the front gate he heard defendant inside using bad language, and a moment later) he heard a woman scream. The constable rushed round.to the back door and defendant met him-there and hit him on the side of the mouth, cutting his lip and drawing blood. Defendant was then arrested and taken to the lock-up. He had never been before the Court previously. Asked if he had anything to say for himself, defendant replied: "It was only the drink; that's all. That was the whole trouble." The Bench: When you are in your sober senses you appear to be a good citizen. In the event of the Bench being perhaps over-considerate of your case, would you agree to a prohibition order being taken out against you? Defendant: Yes, sir. I'll agree to that. The Bench: Very well, you will be convicted, but sentence will be deferred for six months. Mn J. W. Bowden, J.P., and Mr WPatterson, J.P., were on the bench.