BIT, SCRATCHED, SCREAMED AND CURSED!

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6619, 4 August 1931, Page 7

BIT, SCRATCHED, SCREAMED AND CURSED!

Molester of Women Gaoled BROKE DETECTIVE’S RIBS Per Press Association. NAPIEIi, Last Night. “He bit, lie scratched, lie screamed and he cursed,” said Detective-Sergeant Fitzgibbons in the Magistrate's Court this morning when a Greek named Con Paliti pleaded not guilty to charges oi molesting women, resisting the police and being an idle and disorderly person in that he had no lawful means of support. After a lengthy hearing Mr. [A. M. Motvlem, S.M., convicted Paliti on all three charges. For being idle and disorderly lie was convicted and discharged; for resisting the police ho was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment; and for molesting women he was sentenced to a further month’s imprisonment. The Bench recommended that accused be given medical treatment. The detective-sergeant stated that he had had occasion to warn l’afiti following complaints from women that accused had followed them. In consequence .of further complaints witness, with Sergeant Daley, attempted to arrest accused. “He began to resist,” said witness, “and caused a lot of trouble. He gave me two broken ribs, as well as a number of bruises, and bit Sergeant Daley on the wrist. It took three policemen to convey him to the police station.” In the witness box accused, in answer to questions by the detective-ser-geant, denied that he had attempted to stab a man in Wellington who was run out of a Greek club there, and that he was known to have been guilty of following and molesting women and girls there. Evidence was given by two women that Paliti had followed them repeatedly and had spoken to them. One said that she had, in an endeavour to rid herself of Paliti, promised to meet him later. She was later forced to seek the protection of a constable. The other woman had to enter a shop. In convicting accused, Mr. Mowlcin said he had no doubt whatever that Pafiti was the man who had been troubling women. Regarding resistance to the police, he considered accused had behaved like a madman.