POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ASSAULT AND PROTECTION.

SEAMEN'S TROUBLE SEQUEL.

An episode arising from the recent shipping trouble occurred outside a wool store on February 24, and as a result William Ernest Soucer, a young seaman on the Arahura, appeared in the Police 'Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., to answer a charge of having assaulted William Ernest La Roche. Accused admitted the charge.

The facts, as stated, were that complainant had worked on the Kurow during the seamen's trouble. Accused met him on February 16, called him a scab," and struck him in the face, knocking him down. Then another man attempted to s'crike complainant, but accused pulled him away. The magistrate remarked that accused had evidently lost his temper, but he deserved some consideration for having prevented another man from striking complainant. A fine of £2 was imposed. FIGHT IN THE STREET. They came out of an hotel last evening, started fighting, and had a real good go, said Sergeant Rowell when two young seamen, Roderick Montgomery and George Baden Daniel Webster, admitted having used threatening behaviour in Nelson Street. Accused were each fined 03, in default seven days' imprisonment. STOWAWAYS SENT TO GAOL. , Two young men, Albert Mackie and John Berry, admitted having stowed away on the Niagara at Sydney. Sergeant Rowell said that the men had given a good deal of "trouble on the ship. They had been locked in a cabin, but escaped from it and were finally located in the firemen's quarters. The sergeant urged that these men should not be allowed to enjoy a free trip without punishment, which would be the case if they were merely returned by the next boat. Accused were sentenced to one month's imprisonment and ordered to be placed on board a steamer leaving for Sydney before the end of the period. DRUNK AND RESISTING. George Porter, aged 35, admitted having been found drunk in Durham Street, but when charged with having used obscene language and having resisted Constable Beasley in the execution of his duty he said he did not remember what happened. Constable Beasley said that when being arrested for using obscene language accused struggled and got away twice, and witness had great difficulty in getting him, into a taxi. The magistrate said that accused's wife had written a very nice letter on his behalf, but which he probably did not deserve. However, for the sake of his wife and children, Porter would be given a chance. Accused was ordered to come up for sentence in 12 months-