ASSAULTED POLICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 8

ASSAULTED POLICE.

SCENE NEAR DANCE HALL. TWO BROTHERS IMPRISONED. Two brothers who were involved in a disturbance outside the Trades Hall, Hobson Street, on Friday night, were sent to prison, by Mr. C. K. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, for assaulting the police. Richard de Thierry, a bushman, aged 26, had five charges preferred against him—having intoxicating liquor in his possession in a dance hall; wilfully obstructing Sergeant F. W. Edwards while in the lawful execution of his duty; procuring liquor while prohibited; assaulting Sergeant Edwards and assaulting Constable J. D. B. Mcßean. William Sidney de Thierry (35), a labourer, was charged with being drunk in Hobson Street; having intoxicating liquor in his possession in a dance hall, and with assaulting Sergeant Edwards. Mr. Aekins appeared for the two accused who pleaded guilty to all charges. Senior Sergeant Joyce said that at 10.15 p.m. on Saturday, William de Thierry was teen at the dance hall in a drunken condition. He was refused admission. With his brother he left when the sergeant and constable appeared, but outside, on the footpath, William de Thierry pushed Sergeant Edwards. Richard then caught the sergeant from behind, kicked him on the shins and put him down on the footpath. "He had his hands around the sergeant's throat and was trying to throttle him," added Mr.. Joyce. "Meanwhile William de Thierry punched Constable Mcßean, who went to the sergeant's assistance. It was fortunate that Sergeant Scott of the military police came along and went to the assistance of the police, as a crowd had gathered and the police might have been roughly handled." Richard de Thierry, said Senior Sergeant Joyce, was released from prison on license on July 17, a special condition of his release being that he must refrain from taking liquor. Both brothers were previously known to the police. Pointing out that the accused had 'been in custody since their arrest on Friday night, Mr. Aekins asked that they might be given another chance. Had they not entered th e Trades Hall to use a convenience while on their way home, they would not have got into trouble. Richard de Thierry was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on each of two charges of assault, the terms to oe concurrent, and he was convicted and discharged on the remaining charges. William de Thierry received one iconth's imprisonment for assaulting Serjeant Edwards and was convicted and discharged on the other two counts.