MELEE IN HOTEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 5

MELEE IN HOTEL.

LICENSEE KNOCKED OUT.

TWO HEN ARRESTED

ONE SKAT TO GAOL. The bar of the Queen's Hotel was the scene of a melee, or "general mixup," as described by the police, 011 Saturday evening at j.40. As a result of a few hectic moments in the hotel, two men, William Peter Saunders (US), a' seaman, and George Keid (42), a fisherman, were arrested. Saunders, when charged at the Police Court this morning with having assaulted Oliver Garland, licensee of the hotel, pleaded guilty, while Reid, in answer to charges of refusing to quit the premises when requested and assaulting Thomas Symoiuls, said that he djd not remember. This was taken as a plea of not guilty. Sergeant Flanagan said that he saw tlie licensee eject Saunders, who gave Garland an uppercut which knocked him right out. That happened at the door of the hotel. Just prior to this there was a melee in the bar. Reid. who was covered with blood, being pointed out as the man who assaulted Svmonds.

Symoiuls' version of the inix-up was that lie was having a drink at the liar when Reid commenced to jostle him. "I resented it and I was then struck between the eyes, and the next thing I remember was that I was down on tlie floor," said witness. He could uot say who it was that struck him.

Two other witnesses who were in the bar and saw everything that happened, saw Reid take Svmonds by the coat collar with his left hand and strike him on the forehead with his right. Svmonds then fell to the floor. Just before that Reid had picked an argument with another man in the bar.

'"AH that I liave got to sav is that I dont remember anything about the affair," was Reid's explanation. "I'm sure I hit nobody," he added. When it came to Saund<-r»* t< :n to speak he said: "I mint vol too close,, for I got a crack. S.j 1 then hit the nearest man to me." "That was the licensee." said Mr. F. K. Hunt. Mr: Hunt convicted both men. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that Reid had a long list of previous convictions and was an old offender. Saunders was a first offender. "I've seen you here too often." said the magistrate to Reid in sentencing him to 14 davs' imprisonment. Saunders was fined £3. or seven days in gaol.