JAIL FOR ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 68, 13 December 1938, Page 8

JAIL FOR ASSAULT

Man Known To Police As "The Bruiser”

HOTEL DISTURBANCES Disturbances in hotels in Wellington during the weekend led to prosecutions before Mr. .1. U. Duxford, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. Patrick Francis Brennan, seaman, aged 26, slated by Sub-Inspector D. A. McLean to be known to the police as “The Bruiser,” was charged with assaulting Courtney Higgs, and also with assaulting Edward Gunson. He was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour on one charge, and on the other he was convicted and discharged. Brennan was known to policemen as “The Bruiser.” said the sub-inspector, and people were really frightened to come to court and testify against him. Apparently there was a “donnybrook at the Panama Hotel on December 2. Two men were assaulted, one being afterwards taken to hospital. Higgs said in evidence that be and Brennan had an argument in the barover 5/-. Brennan struck him a light blow and he fell to the floor. He awakened in the hospital.' They were both drunk.

George Wilberg said that when a man came in at the door of the bar Brennan hit him twice in the face, butted him in the stomach and attempted to kick hinr. He then knocked down a snowyhaired man. picked him up and knocked him down again, putting his boot into his ribs-. Three times he said “Kiss me” to the man he knocked down. Edward Gunson said he was about to walk into, the bar when he saw a snowy-haired man lying on the floor. Brennan attacked him, seizing him by the shirt front, and asked him if he was interfering, or something to that effect. Witness was half-thrown and half-pushed out of the door. Brennan struck him with his fist. A second blow hit a mirror and a third the wall. Brennan denied the charges from the dock. The magistrate: No doiibt you were very surprised to hear the evidence of what you did? Accused: I was surprised at the gentleman saying I asked him to kiss me. Assault and Drunkenness. Henry Long, cook, aged 30, was fined £3 for assaulting Arthur James Norris in the public bar of the Hotel Waterloo on Saturday. He was also convicted of drunkenness and discharged. For failing to leave a hotel when requested. David Thomas Rowan, seaman. aged 26, was fined £L and for a second offence of drunkenness he was fined 10/-.