AMBERLEY. Tuesday, March 22.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 6

AMBERLEY. Tuesday, March 22.

(Before Mfssrs J. lnr.es, W. S. Smith, S

Coleman, and J. Greig, J.P.V.)

OnA-GE of Drunkenness and Assault.— Henry Bates, licensee of the Crown Hotel, for whom Mr Kippenberger appeared, was charged with drunkenness and assault on the police on March 10th. Constables Roche and Jackson gave evidence supporting the charge on which tbey arrested

defendant and held him in the lo<*k-«P nearly three hours, when he was bailed. Another witness for the prosecution said that accused was excited, but could not say he was drunk. For defence, Bates denied theallegations. He said that Constable Roche excited him by telling him to go to bed and let his wife manage the hotel. He denied that the bar was lighted after hour*, and that a door to it was open, and also that he had not taken his coat off to fight the constable or shaken his fist in the officers face. Dr. Fitzhenrv gave evidence that hewassent for to the lock-up, and found Bates in an excited, nervous state. He believed that he had taken liquor, and the "excitement would be due to that cause and defendant's nervous condition with the arrest. He should not say he was drunk when he saw him about two hours and a half after he was lockei up. T. McNaught stated that the defendant's habits were sober and regular, and his hotel was well conducted. The defendant was greatly excited over the arrest but he was not incapable from drink. J. Fowler and H. O'Malley, barmen, gave evidence that they were in the bar on the date in question and had not seen defendant drinking. The Bench held the drunkenness proved and, as defendant wa* in a responsible position inflicted the maximum fine of 20s for a first offence, with costs. The assault case was not a serious matter and was dismissed. Mr Kippenberger a«.ked their worships to state a case for appeal on the grounds that the evidence did not justify a couviction.