SOLICITOR'S PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 13

SOLICITOR'S PROTEST.

NOT ALLOWED TO SEE CLIENT POLICE SAID MAN WAS TOO DRUNK. CLASH IN COURT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. A breeze occurred in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when the solicitor for a motor car driver charged with drunkenness, came in conflict with the senior-sergeant. In opening the case, the senior-ser-geant said the police received a message that a collision had occurred between a fruit cart and a car driven by William Moore, the defendant, who was arrested. Mr. L. A. Johnson, solicitor, entered a plea of guilty on behalf of his • client. He said he was rung up by the accused's brother shortly after the accident and asked to appear in the case. "When I arrived at the station," said counsel, "the senior-sergeant definitely refused to allow me to see the man. Surely when any man is going to be put on his trial he is entitled to see counsel." Senior-Sergeant O'Grady: He was too drunk. Counsel said Moore was certainly not as drunk as indicated by the police. He considered the attitude of the seniorsergeant entirely wrong. Senior-Sergeant O'Grady: The police are better judges than you. He was lying asleep on the floor of the cell and no one had the right to see him. Mr, G. N. Morris, S.M.: Do I understand that to mean you would refuse access to anyone who wished to see a man who was lying asleep in a cell under similar conditions? The Senior Sergeant: Yes. If Mr. Johnson has a complaint to make, let him put it on paper. Counsel: I may do that, too. The Senior Sergeant: And you will get replies. You are not here to address the Court about tlie police. Counsel: You have no right to tell me my business. The" Magistrate: The only reason I have let this go on is to afford the senior sergeant an opportunity to answer Mr. Johnson's question as to why he was refused permission to see Moore. The senior sergeant says Moore was too drunk. Counsel: Why, the sergeant even refused permission to Moore's brother to see him at first, because he said Moore was helplessly drunk. The Senior Sergeant: The police never at any stage stated Moore was helplessly drunk. The Magistrate: This discussion is becoming of value only to the Press. Moore was fined £10, and had his license cancelled for six months.