ONEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 143, 20 June 1927, Page 10

ONEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

ASSAULT OH OHX-AKMED MAH

NIGHT WATCHMAN FINED.

When the Onehunga police informed Charles Marshall, nigbt watchman on the Onebuiura wharf for the Northern S.S. Go., that they were taking action against him for assauiU disorderly behaviour, and using indecent language. be told them to go ahead, which they did, with the result that he appeared before the court this morning and pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Sergeant J. A. Cruickshank said that on May 27 last Marshall had assaulted Jame* Morris, the night n-atchman for the Harbour Board at Unebunga, who was a one-armed man and could not defend himself. About once a month Marshall wou!d get too much liquor and then "pUyed up." He bad been warned Several times, and boasted that tbe police couM not catch kirn, as Morris had bo witnesses. This time he underestimated Uieir vigilance, and witnesses were obtained.to tbe three offences. As soon a<. Marshall heard of this fact he went .and apologised to Morris. Mr* Allan Moody asked for leniency. a» Marshall was a married man with seven children. He admitted that hi* client wi» rather overbearing in hi* manner at times. However, be now realised the seriousness of bis behaviour and had agreed to be dealt with summarily and plead guilty. Mr. J. W, Poynton. S.M-. *ai.i it w a * a-serious thing to strike a one armed man. or even to push him. For the first f> V**!? I*™1*™ , ** 1, *"** convicted and fined i-. half of the amount to go to Morri* On tie other charge be was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon.

Suppression of abused* name w a * refused.

C*relesa Driring. P.-F; Harris pleaded not guilty t o a Ciiarge of dangerous driving, but admitted driving without a licence It came oirt in tbe course of the trial that Harri«. while riding a motor bicycle down Auckland Road 0,,0 s atur . d l '-V T^ i i S ,. €O,,i,!ed With a man nat "cd A. H Wakelm as the latter *ter.ne<l off thf footpath. • '

After hearing the evidence. Mr Povnton «a,d Hirris ».« carelc«>. and might have avoided colliding with Wak.-lin costs 3b/. For driving without a licen-V Con " cted and fi n«l 20/. «ith 10

<JJ"" E t' a , ark . wa » 10.. «ith 10♦r I? ' n * hU motor « r without lights at night. Harry Dickson wa« fined 27/ for riding his bicrcle on the footpath.