SENT TO GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 151, 29 June 1939, Page 12

SENT TO GAOL.

UNRULY SHOWMAN.

STRUGGLE WITH CONSTABLE.

TWO OTHER MEN FINED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANG AREI, this day. Terms of imprisonment totalling two months and tines totalling £1"> were imposed in the Police Court this morning by Mr. G. N. Morris. S.M.. as a sequel to a fracas at the Winter Exhibition grounds yesterday afternoon, involving three showmen. Frederick James Cecil Vallis and •lames Frederick Andrews were charged with wilfully obstructing Constables J. H. Hell and C. Snow whilst in the lawful execution of their duty. John Fagan was charged with being disorderly while drunk in the showgrouhds, and also with using obscene language. He was further charged with resisting Constable Hell and Constable Snow whilst in the lawful execution of their duty. Fagan pleaded guilty to the obscene language charge, while pleas of not guilty were entered by the accused to the other charges. Constable Hell said that yesterday afternoon, while at the showgrounds, his attention was drawn to Fagan, who was quarrelling with another man. He heard him use obscene language and threaten to strike the other man. Witness said lie tried to quieten accused down, but failed, so he arrested Fagan, who was under the influence of drink. Accused began struggling, and Constable Snow assisted witness. Giving evidence on his own behalf, Fagan said he was having a heated argument with his "boss" at the time, and he did not see why he should have been arrested, abused and knocked down. The Magistrate: You were arrested for using obscene language.

Fagan was convicted. The magistrate said he had no hesitation about the matter, as it was plain that he had resisted arrest, and the police were quite justified in arresting him. He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on the obscene language charge, with a further month for resisting the police. He was also convicted and discharged on the other charge. Dealing with the chartres against Andrews and Yallis. Cons-table Bell said that while he and Constable Snow were escorting Fagan out of the grounds the two accused came up and tried to pull him away. Andrews was calling out to the crowd: "Don't let them take him away." Defendants were convicted and fined £7 10/ each, with costs. Andrews asked the magistrate to fix surety for appeal and Mr. Morris advised hi'm to obtain the advice of a solicitor. He said he would grant leave to appeal if they wanted it, but he had first to know on what grounds.