CONSTABLE COUGHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 233, 3 October 1933, Page 10

CONSTABLE COUGHS.

READING WOMEN'S 'LANGUAGE'

FURIOUS FIGHT DESCRIBED. 'By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.! NAPIER, this day. A dress torn almost to shreds, and a large tuft of red hair, from the head of one of the combatants, were exhibited in the Police Court during the hearing of charges against two women of fighting in the street. Violet Jane Presling, married, and Jean Math Evelyn Boyd, residents of Port Ahuriri, were charged with disorderly conduct. Presling admitted the offence, but Boyd pleaded not guilty.

"The two women were not standing, but were rolling on the ground," said a woman who had witnessed the fight. Questioned by the magistrate, she said that the piece of red,hair produced in Court belonged to the h»ad of the accused Presling.

A statement made by Boyd was read by Constable Williamson, who, on being instructed by the magistrate to delete any bad language, frequently punctuated his reading with coughs.

Boyd, in her statement, said that on the eveninj of September 12 she was talking to James Ramsay in a bedroom. The Ramsays' house was adjacent to that of the Preslings, and while she was talking Herbert Presling called out.

Repeated coughs by the police witness characterised the next few lines of the statement, dealing with the conversation following. According to Boyd, Presling said "he would put his womenfolk 011 to me." Next night, Boyd continued, she met Violet Presling. "She had her sleeves rolled up and hit out at me, but missed," said Boyd. "Herbert Presling was also there, and incited Violet Presling to choke me. Herbert Presling also struck me once."

"I have not got a cold, your Worship," said the constable, after coughing repeatedly while reading the next few lines of the statement.

The magistrate convicted both, and fined each £2.