POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 10

POLICE COURT

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) CONST A BLE ASSAULTED. Albert Harris was charged with unlawfully assaulting M'Domild Brown, a police constable, in the lawful execution of his duty. lie pleaded not gnißy.- . . -j Senior-sergeant Quartcrmaiu' said that this man was one of live who made a violent attack-on a constable on the wharf on Thursday night. The constable was not dangerously injured, bit was still on the sick list ami had had to attend at tbo hospital. The constable was knocked down and kicked, and was struck a severe blow on tlio head with some hard instrument. The constable hung on to one man n>d took him to the police station. 'Phis man was identified in the street yesterday and was arrested. The other man was remanded to appear on January 2.-!, and the senior sergeant asked that .Harris bo remanded till the same day. Harris was out on probationary license from Paparua Prison only- a fortnigut. Harris was remanded till January '.3, bail being rcluscd. REFUSED TO SURRENDER RESERVED SEAT. A charge of failing to give up-a seat in a railway carriage which was reserved for another person was preferred against Jean Brown. Senior-sergeant Quartermain said that on December T 1 the defendant was a passenger on tlio express which left Invercargill at 7 o'clock in tlio morning, and on arrival at Dunedin she occupied one of three scats .which were reserved for another party, -When • these people came along she removed to a seat which'was reserved for a go > tleman, and when ho arrived she refused to leave. He complained to tlio railway officials, who offered her another seat in the same carriage, hut she persistently refused to leave. When approached by the police at Timani she gave the name of Jean Brown, but this was later found to be incorrect, her proper name being Marion Brown Justice. She was a supervisor for J. R. MTvenzie and Co. In this position she travelled about continuously, inspecting the branches of the firm in the different towns. The Magistrate said that the defendant had written to the court under the name of Jean Brown, Stating hat there was no other scat in the tarriage and that she could not remove her 'uggage at suck short notice. She also stated that she was a new arrival in the coun-

try, and knew nothing about reserved seats. Senior-sergeant Quartermain said that the fact that she wrote under an assumed name somewhat discredited the statements in her letter. His Worship said that this was not a very frequent kind of offence, and tli© publicity given in this case would he timely, in view of the approaching holiday season. Defendant would be convicted and ordered to pay court costs (19s). CHARGE OF THEFT. James Williams was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Bertha White and stealing clothing valued at £lB. He pleaded not guilty. Chief-detective Cameron said that Mr C. J. L. White had been retained to appear for the accused, and he therefore asked for a remand till January 7. This was granted, bail being allowed in accused’s own recognisance of £10(1 and one surety of £IOO or two of £OO. DRUNKENNESS. William Cranshuw, who had been previously convicted for drunkenness within the past six months, was fined £2, in default three days’ imprisonment.