FIGHT OUTSIDE HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 8

FIGHT OUTSIDE HOTEL

Described By Police As “A Proper Set-To”

SEVERAL MEN FINED

Described by Sub-Inspector D. A. McLean as “a proper set-to," a fight in Grey Street hud its sequel in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when six men appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., on charges of fighting in a public place and resisting and obstructing Constable A. C. Guild in the execution of his duty. There was a big crowd in the public space in the back of the courtroom, where several constables were posted to keep order, and as the case proceeded the court orderly frequently called for silence. A number of men were ejected.

Henry Long, cook, aged 30, a native of England, was fined £2 for using obscene language, and was convicted and discharged on charges of fighting and resisting the police; Ernest Sheridan, seaman, aged 24, a native of Ireland, was fined £3 for fighting and was convicted and discharged for resisting the police; Leslie Patrick O’Kane, seaman and porter, aged 25,'a native of Ireland, was fined £3 for obstructing the police; David Thomas Rowan, seaman, aged 26, a native of England, was fined 1 £2 for lighting; and George Ronald Dobson, labourer, aged 25, a New Zealander, was fined £2 tor obstructing the police. Charges of fighting and assaulting some person unknown preferred against Norman Alan Millar, aged 28, a NewZealander, for whom Mr. R. Hardie Boys appeared, were dismissed. With the exception of Millar and Long, the accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Long pleaded not guilty of using obscene language and resisting the police. Altercation in a Bar. Sub-Inspector McLean said an altercation took place in the bar of the Post Office Hotel at about 2 p.m. Two or three men subsequently came out of the hotel and had a proper set-to. A fight and general melee took place on the footpath. and when Constable Guild arrived a crowd had gathered and Sheridan and Long were fighting. Sheridan, who was under the influence of liquor, was the aggressor. Constable Guild, the sub-inspec-tor added, showed great discretion. Sheridan had fallen on the footpath, but when the constable assisted him to his feet Sheridan showed his gratitude by giving him an upper cut. Rowan came on the scene, said the sub-inspector, and fought with Long, and while the constable held Sheridan he was obstructed by O’Kaue, after which Dobeon started to help O’Kane. “At this stage one of the witnesses of the fight eaw that Constable Guild was going to get a rough time and' went for assistance. Millar arrived on .the scene some time after the fight started and was seen to give another man an upper cut ; when he got up he gave him another,” Sub-lu-spector McLean said. F Constable Guild, in evidence, said Long struggled when later arrested in the bar of the Pier Hotel. Witness heard him use obscene language. According to Detective J. 11. Alty. Long was fighting drunk when arrested by witness and Constable Guild in the Pier Hotel. The language complained of Was used' when Long was being taken to the police car in Grey Street. "You were arrested once but got away,’’ witness said Ln answer to a question by Long. Struggled Very Hard. “Are there any more questions you want to ask?" said the magistrate after Constable Fulton had given evidence of Long fetruggling very hard and using bad language in a loud voice. “It's a two to once chance,” said Long. “I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.” Cross-examined by Mr. Boys, a further witness said it wag difficult to see who wag fighting whom and who was being hit. Mr. Boye: Can you see the man who Wan thrown? “Yes,” witneas replied, indicating the acused men in the dock, ‘‘the eecond from the left.” “Must be me,” said Long, opening his coat and revealing a bare chest with a nailing ship tattoed on it. "When Long was questioning a witness at a later stage, a voice called from the back of the court “Hear, hear!” and a man was promptly ejected by the police. “How do you know that?” Long asked when a witness described an incident of the fight. “I think you must have been the same as me. You’d had one drink too many.” This brought a rebuke from the magisfltrate, who warned Long that he had been given plenty of latitude and had no •right to make such a remark. Millar, in evidence, said he was in the Pier Hotel when he heard that thousands of people were outside and a poor “copper” was getting a rough time. “I had had some liquor and I thought the policeman wag not getting a fair go and I would give him a hand. I did not know any of these men,” said Millar. Mr. Boys submitted that Millar admitted striking a man but was under the impression he was doing something to assist the authorities. On Hig Way to Pay Previous Fine. Long in evidence said he was fined £3 last Monday, and given 14 days in which to pay. He found work and earned some money, and. was on his way down to the Magistrates’ Court to pay the fine when he met three men outside the Post Office Hotel. They went in for a drink, and somebody suggested that there was iio need to .pay all the fine at once; he could pay half this week and hall: the next. “I wanted to get it off my mind, but fell in with the suggestion,” said Long, who said he 'had handed out part of his money to the others. ' Accused said he must have reached the stage when he could take no more drink. He went outside and saw Sheridan and Rowan fighting. He then went into the Pier Hotel and had another drink, and when he came out Sheridan had a policeman on the ground. He had tried to be a good Samaritan to Sheridan and get him away. “My shirt and trousers were torn,” Long added, “and I had to borrow a .pair of policeman’s trousers to come to court in.” "A Merry Christinas.” Before leaving the witness box Ixiug told the Court that he blamed himself for the entire affair. It would not have happened, 'be said, if he had not given the other men money. “I am prepared to spend Christmas in jail, but before I go 1 -wish you all a Merry Christmas,” lie said. John McDowell, who gave evidence at Long’s request, said both Sheridan and Long were good fellows till they took drink. Sheridan had about 18 handles of beer in two hours. “Both Sheridan and I have 'been trying to get away,’’ said witness. “The colonies don’t agree with us; I don't know what's in the New Zealand beer.” The magistrate: Many visitors have complained of that. The magistrate.said there was a question of doubt in the case of Millar, ami the charge against him would be dismissed. There was no question about Long's guilt, but he was not altogeth-r the cause of the trouble. There was a , degree of seriousness - about the case I when everything was considered. the magistrate added. One thing had led to another, 'but the crowd remained orderly and there was no suggestion of a riot. The accused were allowed seven days in which to pay the fines.