POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20572, 26 August 1930, Page 12

POLICE COURT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) ONE MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT. Joseph Sutherland, a prohibited person, was charged with procuring liquor from some unknown source on August 25. He was charged with using indecent language on the-same date, and ho was also charged with procuring liquor while prohibited on August 14. Senior-sergeant Quartermam stated that last night, at about 10.45. the police were called to a certain house, and at this place the defendant was Seen: under- the influence of liquor and drinking with two other inch in tho kitchen. When spoken to by a constable ho used obscene language. Iho defendant had been one of-the,unem-ployed for the last day or so, and was clothed by charity front head to fobt. The Defendant (loudly); No, I alii not, excuse me. - The Magistrate; Remember where yep are, Sutherland. • ■ The Defendant :“ I want a. fair,,go,, sir.” Ho added that he was at Jus sister’s place,’ and that he had been joining in the celebrations connected with .liis father’s eightieth birthday. There had been no need to call in the police. Ho had been working four or five, days a week. " 1 On one of the charges r of breach or his prohibition, order ho was fined lOs, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, and on the other ho was fined 20s, with court costs (10s), in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. For .tho‘use ’ of'indecent language he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. ASSAULTED A CONSTABLE.

Alfred Gregory, for whom Mr B. 5. Irwin appeared, was charged with committing a breach of his prohibition order at Ravcnsbourne yesterday, and also with assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty. Constable Mackenzie said that at 6. JO last night he-saw the. defendant in tho kitchen of a house to which ho had been called. For a few moments ho tried to pacify the defendant, who, however, used obscene language, and camo at him, splitting .witness’s lip and causing other minor injuries. Witness then struck him two blows. _ - Mr Irwin: Was he not unconscious after your second blow? Witness: I did not render him unconscious.

Mr Irwin: He says you anticipated trouble, and struck him first. Constable Mackenzie: That is nu-. true.

Mr Irwin stated that the defendant had been a railway servant. . Ho had been at the war for some time, and was very severely wounded. ' At the present time he was wearing a truss to support his spine. If he left the drink alone ho was quite a decent‘.man, and his people were glad to do what they could for him. On this occasion ho candidly admitted taking, liquor, hut he did not. know what actually happened regarding tho other charge.Considerable punishment was moled out to him. and ho remembered nothing after the constable's second blow witii the baton.

The Senior Sergeant: Wo arc greatly concerned as to what might happen if lie takes liquor. . Taking into consideration the defendant’s condition and the general circumstances, His Worship convicted him on the first charge, and ordered him to Come up for sentence within six months if called upon. And, stating that it was obviously the constable’s duty to master the man, he fined the defendant 20s on the assault charge, in default seven days’.. imprisonment.