ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 77, 26 February 1930, Page 7

ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE.

MAN SENT TO PRISON. WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. The disturbance in. Cuba Street on Saturday night, when the police were compelled to draw their batons in an effort to maintain order, had a sequel in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when a waterside worker, James O’Neill, aged 32, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of assaulting Constable W. Ritchie in'the lawful execution of his duty. On a charge of resisting arrest, O’Neill was convicted and discharged. A fireman named Hugh Tanner, alias Hugh James Tanner, aged 25, was also charged with assaulting Sergeant Edwards while in the lawful execution of his duty. The offence with which Tanner was charged was alleged to have taken place at the exit to a dance hall, on the third floor of a building at the comer of Cuba and Vivian Streets. After taking time to consider the case against Tanner, the Magistrate dismissed the information. “The defence is that the police seized the wrong man,” said Mr Page, in referring to the charge against O’Neill. “I think there is no doubt thai O’Neill is the man who assaulted Constable Ritchie, and I propose to convict him. The police are charged with the duty of maintaining order, and they have to exercise considerable forbearance at times. Where there is concerted action made on them, as in a case like this, I cannot deal leniently with the matter.” Accused was then sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.