BRAWL AT THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 37, 13 August 1923, Page 8

BRAWL AT THEATRE

CONSTABLE SERIOUSLY

ASSAULTED

YOUNG MEN SENT TO GAOL,

A fracas at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night, when a constable and two attendants were. assaulted, had its sequel at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when a fireman named Herbert Siggens, 25 years of age, and Claude Smith, 19 years of age, appeared before Mr. F. K.^ Hunt, S.M. The former was charged with obstructing and assaulting Constable Caterer and damaging a pair of false teeth, valued at £i 4s, while the younger defendant had to answer to charges of drunkenness, assaulting the constable, and the two attendants, Alfred Henry 'Warren and Alfred Molyneaux,.and using indecent language. According to Sub-Inspector Lander.,' Smith, .when under the influence of! liquor, had attempted to gain admission; to the theatre, but had been barred by.' the doorkeepers, in view of his condi-: tion. He then tried to force his way' through, and assaulted Molyneaux, who did his best to keep him out. The other, attendant, Warren, came to the assistance of his colleague, and was also as-' saulted by Smith." When Constable Caterer arrived on the scene, he advised the. young man to go away, but Smith became very violent, assaulting aiTd generally resisting the officer. ; The elder man, Siggens, wlio was among the crowd, also severely handled ! the constable, breaking his teeth. Smith,; | during the latter part of the.brawl, made good his escape, but Siggens was placedunder arrest by Sergeant Fender and' Constable Bennett.

"The only thing I can say in Smith's favour is that he later came to the Police Station and admitted that he was concerned in the affair."

The constable, who appeared with a heavily-bandaged face, and Sergeant Pender, gave evidence on these lines. / On behalf of Smith, Mr. 0. C. Mazen-; garb referred to the good character of! both the accused and his family. He produced a letter from Dr. Levy, in. which it was stated that the young man was_ highly excitable, owing to his once having injured his head while diving. Counsel asked the Court 'to take a lenient view of the defendant's actions,' in view of the fact that the drink he had imbibed during the day had "gone to his head." .

_ The Magistrate: "So that because he injured his head in 1922, he can assault a constable any time he likes?" _ "Smith was not responsible for injuries to the constable," erplained Mr. Mazengarb. The Sub-Inspector said that Siggens had been a fireman on the Athenie for the past four years, and was well recommended by the officers of the ship Policemen have difficult and dangerous duties to perform," remarked the Bench, 'and frequently their lives are m danger. I am not going to allow them to be placed in further danger from drunken wretches like these." The defendaut Siggens: "I was not drunk, sir!" j The Magistrate: "Then you were wc!; se- You should get a month!" iach defendant was sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment, and Siggens, . m addition, was ordered to pay the expenses incurred. .