SERIOUS CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 93, 16 October 1914, Page 8

SERIOUS CHARGES

AGAINST A POLICE SERGEAIur A respectably-dressed young man named George Charles Beynon, who, according to bis counsel (Mr. P. W. Jack, eon), is in constant employment in the city, was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with being a rogue and a. Vagabond, because hft was found On. private property in Abel Smith-atreefc one evening this week. During th« healing- of the case gome serious al« legatioos were made against, a police sergeant. The occupier of the house in question gave evidence to the effect that defendant came to the side-door, knocked, and demanded admittance. She toM accused to go away and. he refused, but happily, sbe said, iito police came on the scene. Defendant was outside for some time. Sergeant Cniickßhanka stated that he saw defendant at the door, and eubsequenHy he attested him. Defendant attempted to resist Arrest, and objected to be searched. Mr. Jackson, : "Is it a fact thai, you kicked Beynon--A severe kick— before you took him into custody?" Sergeant Cruick&hAnks ; " No. It is nob a fact." " Are you sure ? Will you sw«ar it V"Yes." " And when you arrived at Mount Cook I you had a struggle wMi him ? Did you deliberately trip him, and throw him to the floor?"— " No." "Is it not a fact that you held him 80 tightiy by the throat that he couldj scarcely eat for several days after?"— Mr. Jackson continued questions in this strain when Inspector Hendrey objected. Counsel said it was a serious matter and would probably have to be investigated in a charge of assault against the sergeant. Inspector Hendrey : "We can an«wej? anything you bring." The defendant went into the box and stated that he was a single man employed as a driver by Mr. J. Keir, o£ Wellington. On the evening in question he was with three friends. While in. the bar of the White Swan Hotel he met a stranger, and arranged to meet the latter at a house in Abel Smitih*street. The stranger wa"s not there. Defendant recognised what he thought was tho house, so he went up to the door and knocked. He was thereupon roughly srx>ken to' by the sergeant, who kicked 1 him severely and called him a scoundrel and other like names. When out in the street the sergeant arrested him, taking a very powerful, grip on Mb throat. At Mount Cook Police Station he received very rough treatment at the hands of the sergeant and another constable, prior to being searched. He was tripped on to the floor, and held down. In tho morning lie could hardly breathe, and could not eat properly for a few days. Cross-examined by Inspector Hendrey, accused stated that at the poHce station he was not in the least provocative. Ib was not true that he resisted either tho arrest or the searching operations. Ho denied that he had any conversation with riie woman who was the first witness. Mr. Jackson pleaded strongly for his client; and his Worship said that, in his opinion, Beynon was guilty of trespass only. The charge could not be reduced, however, and the information must b& dismissed. Inspector Hendrey said he would bring Beynon before the Court again on a charge of trespass.