POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

AT A SOCIALIST MEETING.

A BACK-HANDED BLOW.

Ratheb an amusing case came before Mr. O. O. Kettle, S.M., at tho Police Court yesterday morning, when J. Keil charged Georgo do Burren with assaulting him at a socialist meeting at tho Queen-street Wharf on Sunday, October 31.. Plaintiff, a meagrely-built man, said he was standing at tho socialists' meeting. Ho had quarrelled with Georgo do Burren, one of the socialists, who turned round and hit him in tho mouth, knocking a tooth down his throat. Ho was dazed for five minutes.

A witness subpoenaed by the plaintiff, describing himself as an out-and-out socialist, said plaintiff had asked him if ho would givo evidence. Ho agreed, and proceeded to givo the following account of the incident: "Keil was at tho meeting 'slinging off' at the socialists. Do Burren had said, 'Wo want no scabs here.' Keil replied, 'They will have one when they got you.' Do Burren then gave him a backhanded smack and ' put him out of action.' If ho was dazed for five minutes he must havo been dazed with fright. Wo (meaning the socialists) found this man in tho park one night, and we put our hands in our pockets and helped him. Defendant didn't hit him hard."

The Magistrate, addressing complainant, said: "It doesn't pay little dogs to snarl at big ones. You were very silly to bring this case before the Court. You went to that meeting when you were not in sympathy with the socialists, and for reviling them you deserved the back-handed smack in the mouth you received. You ought also to be careful about quarrelling with bigger men than yourself. I will fine defendant Is, without costs." Tho complainant proceeded' to stump out of Court at a great rate, and the magistrate, asa last pioco of advice, called after him, " Now, mind jou don't go to any of these meetings again." ,

DRUNKENNESS. A man from Gisborno named Isaac Chadwick was charged with being helplessly drunk in Princes-street. He was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Hugh Broadfoot, convicted of being drunk in Custom-street, was fined 5s and costs. A f prohibition order was issued against Wiliam Jackson for 12 months, and ho was convicted and discharged for being drunk in Darby-street. A first offender was fined 5s and costs, and another was convicted and discharged. Archibald Lamont was convicted for being drunk on the Newmarket railway station. Ho was prohibited for 12 months. MAINTENANCE CASES. In the case Evelyn Hollis v. Charles Alfred Hollis, an application for a "separation order under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, the order was made. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace in one surety of £12, and a prohibition order was made against him. An order was made against Henry Hcald to pay his mother 5a a week, and an order for 2s 6d a week was made against his brother, W. Heald, also to support his mother. . «;■■•■

Atkinson Webb, for dißobedicnco of an order of the Court to pay his wife 15s a week, was sentenced to three months' hard labour, the warrant, to be suspended until the 20th inst. A similar order was made against defendant for not supporting his child by payment of 5s a week. In the case Sarah Jane Jamieson v. Robert Henry Jamieson, disobedience of an order to tho husband to pay his wife 5s a week, defendant, who did not appear, was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment with hard labour, tho warrant to be suspended for a week.