"SEARCHING THE SKIPPER."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 176, 25 July 1907, Page 5

"SEARCHING THE SKIPPER."

ALLEGED ASSAULT WITH INTEOT.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Two young men responding to the names of David Walter Sullivan and Donald Wilson, respectively, were occupants of the Police Court dock this morning, in answer to a charge of assaulting a fireman named Hugh Mullins in Wakefi eld-street last night, with the intent of robbing him. Sub-Inspector Gordon prosecuted, the accused men being undefended.

From the arresting constable's account of the affair, it would appear that while on duty at the foot of Wakefieldstreet last night, he (Constable Horaa) suddenly heard loud cries of "Police, police; they are robbing mc of my £2! " Turning in the direction from whence the cries proceeded, he noticed, by. the light of the moon, that two men had a third man on his back in the gutter, and were apparently busy rifling his pockets. They were so busily engaged in the occupation that they failed to observe the approach of the enemy in uniform, for the constable arrived there while yet one of them was sitting on the victim's chest and the other on his head, hard at work searching without a warrant* Constable Horan landed Sullivan a blow on the head, which surprised that worthy into remarking: "You struck mc unjustly, constable. This is our skipper, and we are taking him aboard the scow." Mullins was, by the way, very drunk, helplessly drunk. Detective Shine arrived on the scene about this time, and the men then reproachfully. associated the " skipper" with a bottle of whisky, of which they had benevolently desired to relieve him. None of this exhilarating beverage was to be anywhere discovered, however, for that matter, could the officers of law and order find the lost £2 upon either of the assailants. Mullins, in the box this morning, said that he was a fireman, erstwhile of the Delphic, now at large. He admitted to a slight knowledge of the two men by sight, but could remember nothing of last night's performance. He remembered being very drunk, for which he had to answer this morning.

Mr Gordon: Have either of these men asked you to withdraw the charge?—Oh, dear no, not at all. 1 just know nothing about it whatever.

How much money did you have yesterday? —Oh, about £4, but I cut that in. A man can spend £4 very easy and quick at times.

And you account for only possessing 4/8 when found on your back in the gutter by — 1 Why, just by beer and whisky, I suppose. Mullin's recollection of the night's doings absolutely found a period at the beer and whisky, so he was allowed to stand down.

Neither of the two accused elected to make any present explanation, so they were committed to take their trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being fixed at two sureties apiece of £50 each.