The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. WAERENGA-A-HIKA ASSAULT CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2123, 24 February 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. WAERENGA-A-HIKA ASSAULT CASE.

The deplorable ease ol assault in which a Gisborne constable figured as the defendant, is fortunately of a kind that is extremely rare in the Court records of tlie Dominion. Tlio facts brought out in an exhaustive) hearing bofore the Stipendiary Alugist.ra.te show that Air. Robert AlcBrotney, an elderly settlor, aged 07 years, was on January 20, in the Waorenga-a-liika Hotel, under tlio inllueuee of drink. The mail was asleep when tlio defendant constable entered, and, according to the evidence of the prosecution, struck the old man several heavy blows with his riding whip. Mcßretney then rose, and the constable, in ejecting him, evidently handled him in a brutally rough manner, and continued this violent usage outside the hotel. The facts were testified to by a number of witnesses, including men whose credibility could scarcely bo questioned. Defendant’s counsel drew attention to several apparent discrepancies, but tlieso in no way shook the general testimony, and it is, after all, well known that, no two witnesses of the same occurrence will ever give precisely an identical account of the happening, and a divergence as to detail is often additional proof of the witnesses’ bona fides. There was absolutely no defence, and the Alagistrato had no option but to accept the view that a cowardly and quite unprovoked -assault had been made upon the old man. The incident itself makes most unpleasant reading, but the worst feature is the uneasy feeling it gives in regard to those who are armed with considerable authority over the ordinary citizen. So far as the constable immediately referred to is concerned, we may rely upon the Department to ensure Hie public against gny possibility of his again offending; but the fact remains that there is a tendency amongst a section of our polico force to use unnecessary force in carrying out their duties. It is true, as the defendant’s counsel pointed out, that policemen have many difficulties to contend against in the discharge of whit arc frequently most unpleasant duties, but it is also true that they aro protected by Stipendiary Alagist'rates, who very properly recognise tlio prononess of human nuturo to aid the weaker side, and constables raroly have cause for complaint through lack of sui>port from tho Bench, lb was pointed out that a constable cannot carry around witnesses with him, but for tho matter of that neither can drunken men, or other offenders, many of whom rceeivo treatment on tlio way to the lockup, which, if administered in the presence of witnesses, would lead to trouble for tho policemen. \Vo have a very high opinion of the New Zealand police force, which, taken man for man, is probably as line a body of constables as will be found in the world. Anyone who has travelled in the United States and other countries cannot fail to return home more satisfied than ever with the general standard of our policemen, but we have not, of course, perfection, and tho manner in which their physical strength is brutally used at times by some members of the force is one of tlio most notable weaknesses. Defendant’s counsel on Friday commented on tlio fact that none of the witnesses bad protested at the time against unnecessary violence, but it must bo remembered tint the average citizen stands in some awe of a constable in uniform, and naturally hesitates to take any steps which the representative of law and order might construe as an interference with him in the discharge of his duty. Thus a constable’s uniform gives very great authority and corresponding responsibilities, and it is to be hoped that the outcome of the AVaerenga-a-hika assault case will serve as a salutary lesson to those members of The force throughout tho Dominion who may have been inclined in the past to misuse their powers.