[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CONSTABLE ASSAULTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1912, Page 3

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CONSTABLE ASSAULTED.

6TREET ROW IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, 9th April. Henry John Wells, Thomas Henry Litt, and John Richardson, appeared at the 'Police Court to-day on a charge of having in Grey-street, at 1 o'clock this morning, assaulted Police Constable Frederick Milk. Sub-Inspector Hendry applied for a remand, as the constable was too ill to appear. He stated that the constable whß very much knocked about, and had been kicked over the heart. After his arrival at the station he had 'fainted. Dr. Murray examined him, and ordered his removal to the hospital. It was hard to say what was the* extent of hi» injuries. Accused were remanded until 17th 'April. From information gleaned it appears that Constable Mills was^ on duty iv Grey -street at about 11 p.m., when hie attention was attracted by rowdyism on the part of three men. He proceeded to the scene of the turmoil, and ordered the disturbers of the peace to cease their noise. It is alleged that one of the men, named Richardson, became abusive, and the constable . thereupon attempted to arrest him. Richardsou, it is said, violently resisted being taken into custody, and in the ecuffle that ensued the constable was knocked down. While he was lying on the ground he was kicked, it. is alleged, by Wells, and sustained severe injuries. He managed to make his way t6 the police station, at which he arrived in a. state of col]apfie, and fainted shortly afterwards. He was severely kicked in the ribe and over the heart, but, although eerious, his injuries are not supposed to bB dangerous. Later the three men were arrested. In his statement to the police, Wells said ,that he was in company with men named Litt and Puchardson, the latter of 'wioin the constable endeavoured to arrest. When Richardson resisted tho constable had to uee force, and ia (Wells) said : "Don't knock him about." Wells's statement then went on as follows : "I hit the constable in the face with my clenched fofc. After I struck the constable I ran up Grey-street into a chop, and went upstairs. I adrtiit that prior to the constable interfering ■we were all rowdy. We had had several drinks during tho day." Litt's statement was similar in effect. He said that when the constable was knocked down he called for help. "I helped him to hh feet," said Litt. '•'The constable tried to handcuff the man. and the crowd gob round. I s»w .Wells kick the constable iv the bide." Enquiries mado at the hospital tlicit«d the information that Constable Mills yrze progressing \ery favourably. b