PAIN OR PERJURY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 183, 1 August 1908, Page 5

PAIN OR PERJURY.

———• ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE POLICE. A MATTER FOR INVESTIGATION ! A man called Frederick R. Ross -was ar- , rested in Karangahape-road at 4J30 yes- 1 terdaj- afternoon by Constable McGaffen ] for drunkenness, and this morning he 1 ■was formalin charged at the Police i Court, before Mr C. C. Kettle, SJI Im- • mediately Rose protested against the I brutality of Ms arrest. He had been ! waiting up Grey-street, when he became doubled up with strangulated hernia, and by the time he reached Karangahaperoad his suffering was intense. ~T had taken no drink whatever since S a'dock in the morning, and then only a cup of j coffee," he declared, adding that he was dragged willy-nilly along to the station between two constables, roughly pushed into a cell, and left there with no tea or reireshment whatever all that night, while he himself refused to eat anything this morning. "Well, if what this man states is true, it is a most scandalous business," commented the Magistrate. j "It is true,' , "Rose broke in fervently, I who went on to express his opinion about such a condition of things that ' made it possible for a perfectly soher | I man suffering with extreme pain to be thrust into a dark and draughty cell for the night, as he had been. Mr Kettle: "Did you not tell the constable you were in pain?" j Rose: "They would not let mc. Xo. ! j 134 abused mc, and this morning swung Ime violently against the cell wall. They I threatened to put my head under the ! tao." j Ti Wh.a.t for?" ! "Oh, I suppose that is their practice." j "Nonsense! Why should they do ! that?-" enquired Mr Kettle. ; Mr Hendry: "Did you make any co-m- ---, plaint about being ill or suffering from [ ] strangulated hernia ?'"—'"l demanded that ! Dr. Gordon be sent for, and that he j would prove that I wasn't drunk; but I the sergeant infused to send because I had no money.' . The Magistrate: "Well, this is a mat--1 ter that should be probed to the bot- ; torn." i Mr Hendry: "I certainly agree with I your Worship thao the case is worthy j :of investigation.' . Turning to the arresting constahle: "Did the man make \ any compla'int?"—"None whatever. I i cautioned him when I first saw him in the street, and he told mc to mind my , own business. A little later I again ad- j vised him to get home, as he seemed tobe in a dangerous condition to be in the thoroughfare, and the third time I saw him he waa leaning against a verandah pole. I spoke to him again, and he further told mc to look after my own j business. I arrested him. I obtained the i assistance of Constable Jarvey to take I him to the station. Sergeant Sheehan ! otok the charge, and he saw us take 1 the man to the ceil. He waa certainly drunk. I smelt the drink on him. No violence whatever was used. The man gave no trouble beyond wavinj his arms. Ec made no complaint whatever about ( suffering from any pain. All he said was to deny that he was drunk, and '. to ask that Dr. Gordon be sent for.' , " again declared his complete and teetotal sobriety, adding tha-t he had

been walking about all day looking tor n - irk. When errested they held his hands up. and he asked them to let them down, as the pain of his hernia wna increased by the elevation of his anna: but they replied: "Oh, you will be right when you have had a sleep. You will be put into a cool place. -, Sergeant Sheehan was called, and he denied ahsolutelv that he saw or heard of any violence whatever to Rose. As fol the failure to communicate with Dr. Gordon, as requested by the man. Rose re fused point blank and continually to give his name, and as he ha-d no money upon him. the doctor could not be runs: upHad the man given his name, his people would have been communicated with and also the doctor, according to the standing orders, but under the circumstances that was impossible. }*~eithe] did Rose make the suspicion of a complaint about his being in pain. Had hi been suffering, it would certainly hav< been noticed, and in such a case the po lice, for their own saJces. would losi no time in getting medical assistance In the opinion of the sergeant, ioss was drunk. In fact, he happened to bi in Karaniahape-road about half-an-hou: before. Rose was arrested, and he notics>< him. and rionsidered then that he wa. not in a safe condition to be in tin street. Dr. Gordon was also called, and while as the result of a brief examination witnessing , to the fact that Rose ra suffering from hernia, * expressed th i opinion that it would be difficult t confound the appearance of a nran r 'acute pain with a man who wae dru—i j ■'■Wβ!!." said his Worship; "cither i lis a. caae of an extraordinary mistak or a case of deliberate perjury. I will i adjourn the matter to allow of further I . investigation."' And the case was ac- | ; cordingly adjourned till Wednesday, j I Rose still persisting in the statement i that not a drop of alcoholic liquor had i j passed hi? lips all day yesterday. In addition to Rose, four other first | appearances were dealt with.