RESISTING THE POLICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 September 1925, Page 9

RESISTING THE POLICE.

CHARGE AGAINST A NATIVE. “No! I won’t go with you. I’ll give you a ‘go’ for it.” Actions arising out of the above challenge were the primary reason for the appearance of Billy Ivapa in court this morning before Messrs L. A. Bone and G. H. Buckeridge, J’.P., on a charge of re, sisting Constable Pidgeon in the execution of .his duty at Normanby on Saturday. Sergeant J. Henry prosecuted, and Mr P. O’Dea appeared for the defendant, who was a native of 34 years of age. After hearing the evidence of the defendant and the constable the Bench inflicted a penalty of £ls, in default two months’ imprisonment.

Sergeant Henry, in opening, said that the case originated through a fine that the defendant had received on June 11 at the. Magistrate’s Court through a breach of by-laws. The amount of 30s had not been paid, and a , warrant of commitment had been taken out. The constable had. the power to arrest the man forthwith, but had taken a lenient attitude. On Saturday afternoon, after a number of vain attempts to get the money, the constable had asked! Kapa to accompany him. He was then sober, but he refused to go. The constable said he would have to arrest him, but Kapa said: “No! I won’t go with you. I’ll give you a ‘go’ for it.” After con siderable trouble Kapa had been handcuffed and conveyed to the lock-up. Defendant had a list of previous convictions, and in February last he had been convicted and fined £3 for resisting the police. The sergeant said there was no doubt it was one of the worst cases that had ever come under his notice. It appeared to be a case of Kapa having deliberately laid himself out to resist the police. Mr O’Dea admitted the seriousness of the offence, but asked the Bench to remember that the defendant wae a native.

Kapa, who pleaded guilty, in evidence through an interpreter, said that he admitted resisting the police after he asked the constable to leave him alone until he could get the money from the pa. His reason for resistance was that he could obtain the money. He' laid down on the ground and refused to get up, hut he did not fight. Constable Pidgeon gave evidence that he had asked Kapa for the money at least eight times, and on each occasion he promised to come and see witness and' pay the amount as soon as possible. “But,” said the constable, “he did not come to see me. He goes to the hotel and spends all his money. I could not say one rvord in his favour, as he seems to deliberately try and resist ns.” The Bench said that Kapa’s trouble appeared to he drink since his first conviction in 1911. The police had given him every opportunity to pay the small amount of his fine. He would be fined £ls, in default two months’ imprisonment. An application for time in which to pay the fine was refused, it being said that there would probably be a repetition of the old' trouble. ■