TROUBLE ON TRAIN

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 13

TROUBLE ON TRAIN

Annoyance to Passengers -A CONSTABLE ASSAULTED Close acquaintance with the contents of flasks of whisky, unwelcome attentions to a young woman in a railway carriage, disorderly behaviour and assault, were alleged against James Keating, labourer, aged 39, who appeared before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. He admitted charges of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk iu a railway carriage and assaulting Ernest T. McKain and Constable O’Donoghue. He was fined £5 on the disorderly behaviour charge and was convicted and discharged on the other two counts. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey said that accused, a native of Ireland, boarded the Wellington-New Plymouth express at Marton on Thursday. He took his seat in a carriage in which were some men and women, and it was his unwelcome attentions to one of the latter that started trouble. After pestering a young woman for some time he caught liold of her hand. Later he entered into a dispute over a£l note with two men. The guard could do nothing with him, and the assistance of a third man, Mr. E. T. McKain, was enlisted. Accused struck Mr. McKain. Finally a constable who was in another part of the train was summoned, and he managed to persuade accused to move from the carriage. Accused followed the constable to the latter’s carriage, and after sitting quietly for a time suddenly assaulted him.. “His condition was no doubt due to drinking raw whisky,” said the.seniorsergeant, who added that, when arrested, accused had two full flasks of whisky with him and a partly filled one. Accused expressed deep regret at the actions alleged against him.. .. . i.'”. Negligent. Driving Found guilty on a charge of negligent driving, Thomas Jennings Davenport was fined £lO, the magistrate ordering that the conviction be endorsed on defendant’s license. The proceedings arose out of an accident in Kent Terrace on the night of September 17, when a motor-car driven by defendant struck a motor-cycle parked by the kerb and knocked down two youths. Tho evidence showed that defendant failed to stop. He was followed by a passing motorist and interviewed in Mein Street. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. W. Perry, denied that he had been negligent or that he had struck either tho motor-cycle or the two youths. It was stated that visibility was very bad on the night of the accident. The magistrate said that notwithstanding the poorness of visibility he considered that defendant should have seen both the motor-cycle and the youths. In his opinion the defendant had been negligent. Fines and a Remand Robert Martin Todd, labourer, aged 37. who was charged with stealing clothing valued at £3/5/-, the property of Douglas G. Mcßobbie, was remanded until November 11. Detective-Sergeant Revell explained that inquiries had not yet been completed. A fine of £5, in default one month s imprisonment, was imposed on Reginald Clarence Watson, labourer, aged °6 who was charged with attempting to steal 17/6 in money, the property of Vincent Marinovie. Accused pleaded not guilty, but the magistrate considered that the charge had been established. Daniel Hay and William Warne were each fined £2, and Max L. Lamont £1 10/-, for being found unlawfully on licensed premises after hours.