JUST A PLAIN FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1930, Page 5

JUST A PLAIN FIGHT.

CONSTABLE AND CIVILIAN. ;< • " MAN PINED FOR ASSAULT CIRCUMSTANCES KEPT SECRET. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.); NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Neither the public in the Magistrate's Court in New Plymouth this morning, nor, apparently, the magistrate, was able to understand how a fist fight on a, Waitara Street corner between Constable Lapouple and Sydney D. George, a business man, had remedied a longstanding misunderstanding. The circumstances were kept secret. George admitted assaulting Constable Lapouple, and using obscene language, but pleaded that the circumstances. of the purchase by the constable of a cup and saucer at his (accused's) shop were the culminating point of provocation and rancour between the men, extending over eight years. As to the nature of i the provocation, counsel said, he restrained himself, but he contended that the personal , relationship of the constable and George had led to the assault. There would be no need for a deterrent penalty, because the occurrence had elided the difficulties. He had the authority of the Inspector of Police at New Plymouth to say the inspector did not consider the matter, from what ho knew of the circumstances, to be one warranting imprisonment. Counsel contended also that the assault was hot committed on the constable as a constable in the execution of his duty. The magistrate said that it seemed an accident that on© of. the men happened to be a constable. . The sting was taken out of the seriousness on that account. He fined George £2 for assault and £o for using obscene language.