ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 13 November 1930, Page 5

ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE.

HAWKER FINED £5. [THE PRESS Special Service.) WELLINGTON, November 12. A, warrant being out for Victor David's arrest on account of his failure to pay a line, Constable Grant spoke to him as ho was driving through Courtenay place yesterday. The subsequent happenings, which attracted a large crowd, were also responsible for the appearance of David, a hawker, aged 28, before Mr E. Page, S.M., 'm the Magistrate's Court this morning, charged with, assaulting Constable Grant while in the execution of His dutv.

•Sub-Inspector Lopdell said that when the constable uslced David to go to the police station, he rofused, saying ho would pay the lino in the morning. The constable stepped on to the running board of the car, which was being driven by another man, and the accused tried to push bim off. Thero was some scuffling, but the accused was eventually arrested and taken to the station. David, in evidence, said that ho had made arrangements with a detectivo that morning to pay tho lino the next day. He was willing to go to tho station, but was not prepared to go right away with the constable, as he wanted to drive tho people he was with home. He considered the constable had exeoeded his duly, and had made him feel very embarrassed in the presence of the crowd and a lady who was in the car.

"I entertain no doubt that he assaulted the constable," said tho Magistrate. "I think tho constable would bavo been wrong to be put off by accused's explanation, and I think it was his duty under the circumstances to arrest David."

Sub-Inspector Lopdell: We have had a considerable number of complaints about him for his pugnacious and fighting nature. David was fined &5, in default one month's imprisonment. No time was allowed in which to find the money.