DISORDERLY STREET SCENE

Evening Star, Issue 17319, 6 April 1920, Page 8

DISORDERLY STREET SCENE

THREE MEN CHARCED. TWO SENT TO GAOL. There were two disorderly scenes in the City yesterday, and as a result three men were charged in the Police Court this morning with various offences. Samuel O’Leary was charged with drunkenness, with assaulting Harold Hamilton, with committing mischief by damaging a watch to the value of 7s 6d, the property of Sergeant Scandrett, with resisting the sergeant, and, further, with using obscene language. He pleaded guilty to all the charges except that of assault. Senior-sergeant Murray said that at 6 p.m. yesterday Constable Peters was called to Ebzery’s boarding-house, in Manse street, where accused waa causing a disturbance. He was in the passage at the time. The proprietor explained that he had bean a boarder at the place the night before, but had no right there yesterday. Accused said he wanted to go upstairs to get his portmanteau. He was allowed to do so, hut it was found that what he wanted was a bottle of beer. He then .went away. At 7.50 some boys, including th-e lad Hamilton, complained that accused was using obscene language to a lady who kept a fish shop at the corner of the Arcade and Manse street. Sergeant Scandrett and Constable Peters arrested accused, who resisted violently. He kicked and struck the sergeant on the breast, damaging his watch. Finally he had to be handcuffed. Harold Hamilton, 17* years of age, said that at about 6.45 last evening accused came up to him, caught him, and twisted his arm. Accused was very drunk, and was making himself a- nuisance* Corroborative evidence was given by two other boys. Accused said ho was drunk, and did not remember using the obscene language or resisting the police. ° Sergeant Scandrett gave evidence that accused was molesting several bovs and some young ladies in Manse street. He resisted very violently, and boasted that there was only one. policeman in New Zealand who could handle him The obscene language was addressed to the police in a loud voice. Accused was in the act of striking a young lady when witness knocked him down, and, with the constable, handcuffed him. The Magistrate (Mr Widdowson) fined accused 10s or 34 hour*’ imprisonment on the first charge, £2 or 14 days on the. second. He was ordered to pay "the damage (7s 6d) or seven days on' the third, ha was fined 20s or seven days on the fourth, and £2 or 14 days on the fifth. William Gilbert Neil was charged with drunkenness, with assaulting Constable M'Lean, and also with using obscene language. He pleaded guilty to all the charges, and sard he did not remember , what happened.. The Senior Sergeant said that at 2 p.m. yesterday Constable M'Lean was on duty in George street. He saw accused, who was in a drunken condition, enter a hotel. He followed the man in and had him ejected. On reaching the door accused

became' quarrelsome, and would not go away. He then used obscene language. The constable arrested him, wherupon accused become very- violent and had to be thrown to the ground and handcuffed. At that time another man, who would also be charged, caught hold of accused and tried to release him. Assistance had to be sent for._ In the meantime accused was dragged into a confectioner’s shop, bergeant Shanahan and Constable Kinc then arrived on the scene, and accused promised to go quietly. When he got into Bath street he against caused trouble, and eventually had to be removed •,i 6 Police Station in a cab. A consideniblo crowd assembled, and things looked serious for a time. ° The Magistrate decided to hear the cases against the other man before inflicting punishment. Joseph Francis Bray was then charged with obstructing Constable M'Lean. with assaulting Sergeant Shanahan, and also with resisting the officer. The Senior Sergeant said that while j ll .■' v . a ® bein S arrested Bray interfered and tried to get the other man away. Sergeant Shanahan warned accused to go awav, but ho. got in front of the conth«n ar 4 P m ° ncr - The sergeant Te .T wbo resisted violently in the attempt to arrest him. A taxi wa« called and while accused was being put into it he struck out at t!ie sergeant, hitting him on the head and on the eye! The sergeant was imsuch a condition as to bo unable to appear in Court. Accused said he was drunk and reronf b llothi^ r ; Tb e last thing he did a hotel >er WaS bSlng refn6e<J a rlrink at

he wtf S ° ber l enou to know what he was doing, and Constable King corroborated his evidence S tim^tK 84 ™/* thafc fr °™ t™e. to time the Bench had endeavored to imSrir 1516 &ork >’ of ohsSS In l assau tllc police. Asunjuaifiabte •HtfhfKr .. In » that sort over police must b© proteef-rd and the Court were going to see ini were protected. -Oa tAt T stmction Bray would bo fined* Ss ob ‘ dajs on the obscene TOP t/1© to 14 days' irnprisomnlm