POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15629, 8 June 1914, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

DISTURBANCE AT THEATRE.

UNJUSTIFIABLE ASSAULT.

A DISTnaBAKCE occurred at the Opera House during the currency of last Friday evening's performance, and as a result a young man named Charles Hayes, clerk, of Marton, was charged at the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., with assaulting Alf. Jarman, an attendant. Mr. M. G. McGregor appeared on behalf of the proprietors of the theatre. Alf. Jarman, who appeared in Court with his head bandaged, said that accused came up outside the theatre and violently assaulted him with his fists. Witness's injuries were attended to by a medical man, who had to put stitches in one of tho wounds.

Percy Jones and another theatre employee named Gilroy gave evidence. They also bore marks on their faces, which they alleged were tho effects of attacks bv accused.

The accused, who himself had a black eye, said that ho saw the Opera House staff throwing two men out. They, ho considered, were very rough in handling the men, and this annoyed him. A general fight was going on, and he considered ho was justified in hitting out because he was hit first. a Gross-examined by SeniorSergeant Rntledgo ho denied that he came to Auckland to " paint the town red." Mr. McGregor, in asking for a severe penalty, said the Opera House was a reputable place' of amusement, and if such disturbances were permitted the theatre would get a bad name. ,

Mr. Cutten, in sentencing accused, said he stood convicted of a serious assault, for which there was no justification. He was not satisfied that accused had gone to the theatre to create a disturbance. His story was plausible, but the assault was too serious to set aside without a severe penalty. Accused was fined £5 and casta. £2 ss. half the fine to be paid to Alfred Jarman.

INEBRIATES PUNISHED. Four first offending inebriates were each fined 5s and another (a female) forfeited her bail. Wm. Arthur Cocker, for being found drunk while prohibited, was fined £2, or, fti default, seven days' imprisonment. Thos. Patrick Walsh, who pleaded guiltv to committing an indecent act while drunk, was fined £2. MISCELLANEOUS. For the theft of a clock and a purse, containing the sum of ss, the property of an employeo at an hotel, Albert Tickner was sentenced to one month's imprisonmonv The police applied for a remand in the case of Louis Millar, who was charged with obtaining goods to the value of £14 16s by means of a valueless chequo in Sydney. He was remanded until Friday next, bail being refused. A charge that he stole an overcoat, valued at £2, the property of some person unknown, was, preferred against Richard Davis Stewart Cochrane. He was remanded until to-dav. Patrick Gunn, a well-dressed youth, was charged that at Kohimarama on May 21! he assaulted Eliza Helen Cook by pointing a revolver at her. He was remanded until to-day.