AN EXCITED INDIVIDUAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9743, 7 March 1914, Page 5

AN EXCITED INDIVIDUAL.

j Aljout live o'clock last niglit Iho attenj tion of passers-by in Rangitikei street was drawn to an old man who was driving a cart down the street and shouting at the t:>l' of his voice and flourishing a whip wildly above his head. The career of the excited ii;di\ iihiaJ, who was evidently un- ; diT the influence of liquor, was suddenly jciii short, however, by the appearance of a constable in plain clothes, who stop pod (the horse and mounted the cart, with the ' intention of driving the old man to tli" poj lice station. This action,. however, raised j the indignation of the man, who itnmcdi- | atoly commenced an assault on the oon- ! stable. The horse, also, took exception, and suddenly jibbing refused to move an I inch further. The policeman consequently j was obliged to retreat from the cart, and [after a scuffle with his prisoner, managed | to place him in a cab and convey him to I the lock-up. The sequel was witnessed in the Police | Court this morning, when the accused. George Owich by name, made his appearance. b; fore Messrs W. Rutherfurd and YV. i . Durward, J.l's , charged with l>eing found drunk in charge of a cart, and also with damaging the constable's trousers, valued at 255.

Accused, who pleaded not guilty to both cnargi-s. was defended by Mr Oram.

Constable Finlayson gave evidence in respect ot the circumstances surrounding the- arrest, and in answer to Mr Oram, stated that iie did not use unnecessary force 111 arresting accused, nor did he iil treat him m any way. Witness also said that the a<A-ii:-.'d \\a> driving the cart- and nor his daughter, and he was mad wth drink.

( olonel Pringle. who witnessed tho proceedings in Rangitikei street, also gave evidence. _ stating that if anything he thought tile constable would have used a little more force in arresting accused. Witness considered that accused was very drunk.

( onstab!" Madden deposed as to accused's condition 011 arrival at the police station. Owich was very drunk and had to be. dragged into the station. ( . V,. P. iTx.in gave evidence on behalf of the defence, statin*' that when he passed dccu-ed in the trap the airl had the reins, lb- saw t :ie arnst. and thought the con-.-table could have placed accused 111 the cab with a little less violence.

1 o Mr Durward: Witness thought he saw the constable take the reins from ao-

Accused, on oath, stated that lus daughied was driving at the time. When the constable rot into the Trap he did not lell lum who )>« was. otherwise witness would act have acted as he did. He did not rememWr roaring otic in the street, nor being conveyed to the police station. Mr Oram submitted that the girl was driving at the time, and consequently the trap wuuld not be a menace to traffic, and • •rmsicered that the treatment meted out '>- the constable was more violent than 111 re>sarv.

. The Bencn found acrustxl guilrv on both rnai'L'is. but- Mr Rutherfurd "stated that as 'ins v.;:s accns-d's first appearance before fiie ( the full |»-■ ii;!!ry provided in the Act would_ not Iv. inflicted. On the first cnarge Owich was fire-d £l. in default 7 "■ imprisonment, and 011 the second was nned &s and ordered to pay the damage! wit 11 a, similar default. He \v;: s sriron one moniii in *hich to pay the fines."