DRINKING BY PRISONERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 130, 17 March 1950, Page 2

DRINKING BY PRISONERS

EVIDENCE GIVEN IN ASSAULT CASE

CONVICTS VISIT HOTEL (P.A.) TAUMARUNUI, March 16. Thomas Edward Winney, a prisoner serving sentence, was charged with assaulting a constable in * the execution of his duty, in the Magistrate’s’ -Court at Taumarunui to-day, before Mr A. Coleman, S.M. Constable Arthur Morrison, of Tokaanui, gave evidence that on January 6 he had received confidential information that a truck load of prisoners from the Waikune prison, with no warder in charge, was drunk. Witness went to investigate and saw a truck driven off in the direction of the Tokaanu Hotel. Witness followed up the truck and was met by the accused who was fighting drunk. The accused had three bottles of beer under his left arm and was swinging one bottle above his head, the witness said. The accused put the beer down and as he straightened up struck witness a blow on the side of the head. Witness immediately put a half nelson on the, accused and brought him to the ground and others came up and helped the witness to take the man to the lock-up. Senior-Sergeant Taylor, in reply to the Bench, said that the prisoners had been able to enter the hotel and obtain liquor. Accused was serving a sentence of 18 months at the Waikune prison and had six months to go. The Magistrate: How it comes about that the accused and the other prisoners were able to go to an hotel and get drink, I don’t understand, and it is not my intention to inquire-into it. Accused was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, to be served at the end of his present term.