A FIREMAN’S THIRST

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 102, 16 January 1923, Page 6

A FIREMAN’S THIRST

LEADS TO ASSAULT AND A MONTH IN GAOL AVhen his request for the price of a pint of liquid refreshment was coldly refused by the stranger he accosted outside the Pier Hotel on Saturday afternoon, Michael I’ioran, a heavilybuilt fireman, who claims America as his birthplace, expressed his indignation in a manner which led to his appearance bof<re M.r E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court vesterday to answer a charge of assaulting Kenneth McLennan. .v Accused entered a plea of guilty. According to Sub-Inspector Cummings, the accused, after his claim for a free drink had been repudiated fo - lowed the complainant into the hotel, and while the latter was making a purchase at the bar struck Him a violent blow on the head, knocking him down and causing the blood to flow. Accused was before the Court eighteen months ago. . . . Accused: That is not right. Ihis is my first offence. ... I never asked the man for sixpence. His Worship: Then why did you strike him? . . Accused: I was being accused of being a free labourer. . . His AA'orship: Do you wish to ask the complainant any questions? Accused:' A'es, I want to find out from him whether I hit him from behind or not? The complainant affirmed the subinspector’s description of what hod happened in the hotel. • v i Accused (loudly): Aou re a liar! Whv don’t you stand up as man to man? You'argued about mo being a free labourer. , , ~ Complainant: I never spoke to the man in my life. ... . . Accused: 1 struck him in front, but not from behind. I’m not a scab, amt I’d never like to be. The Magistrate sm-tenced the accused to one month’s imprisonment.