POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18679, 8 April 1924, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

A COWARDLY ASSAULT.

YOUNG MAN SENT TO GAOL.

The cowardly action of a young halfcaste Maori, Thomas Kelly, who assaulted a cripple and kicked another man when he was down, resulted in four months' imprisonment being • imposed on the offender by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Kelly was charged with drunkenness, using obscene language, and assaulting three men. The affair took place at an hotel in Victoria Street on Saturday afternoon. Evidence was given that when in the hotel bar accused threatened to hit a cripple. Another man told him not to do so, whereupon accused told him not to interfere, ana subsequently struck him, with the result that the man's artificial teeth fell out and were broken. Accused followed the cripple, who had refused to buy him a drink, out into the street and struck him in the mouth. When another man interfered accused knocked him down and kicked him while he was ,on the pavement. Kelly said he was drunk and did not remember what occurred. Senior-Sergeant Rawle said that accused had nine previous convictions. The magistrate (to accused): You have done a very cowardly thing, for which drunkenness is no excuse, iou assaulted a man who has been a cripple from childhood and knocked another man down and kicked him. Accused; J don't know how I could kick 'him. I have .only one leg myself. Kelly was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on each of two charges of assault, the terms to bo cumulative.

JOKE LEAS'? TO TROUBLE. A sequel to an episode at a house at Domett.- Avenue, Epsom, was the appearance of Cecil James Ballantine, aged 34 (Mr. Sullivan), charged with having assaulted a young woman. Counsel explained that Ballantine was employed at the house. Two girls, sisters, who were also employed at the houso decided to have a joke 'with- him. They dressed up as boys, and stood out in the bushes in front of his window, smoked cigarettes, and talked as though men were with them, this being done simply to aggravate Ballantine, who was in 'the room and could only sea the lighted cigarettes and hear the voices. When tho girls went inside, Ballantine spoke to them about their behaviour. Words followed, and in consequence of the attitude adopted by one of the girls Ballantine slapped her on the face. Counsel admitted a technical assault. Senior-Sergeant Rawle, after reading the girl's statement, said the only point in dispute was that the girl said she was struck with the fist, while accused said he used his open hand. 'Die magistrate said he thought the girls were wrong in taking the action they did, but Ballantine should not have lost his temper. A fine of -22 and costs was imposed. WOMAN WHO NEEDED RESTRAINT. " You have a long list of convictions for a young woman," said Mr. Poynton to Rose Hunter, aged 28, who admitted charges of drunkenness and wilfully breaking a pane of glass valued at ss. She had, it was stated, gone into the promises of a Chinese in Hobson Street on Saturday afternoon in a drunken condition and smashed a window. Senior-Sergeant Rawle said that Hunter had 13 previous convictions, the last being for an offence similar to the present one. Perusing the woman's record, the magistrate remarked that she needed a long term under restraint. She was remanded till to-morrow for sentence. FOUND SLEEPING IN A PARK. Found sleeping under a toitoi bush in a park, Harriet Ethel Nelson, aged 38, pleaded guilty to a charge of being a rogue and vagabond in that she had no lawful visible means of support, and had previously been convicted of vagrancy. Senior-Sergeant Rawle said tho woman came before the Court last week. A letter written by accused indicating her intention to commit suicide had been handed to tho police. A powder had been found in the woman's possession, but it was nothing more harmful than alum. There were some doubts as to her mental condition. The woman was remanded for a week for medical observation. RELATIONS AT VARIANCE. A family dispute was ventilated in a private prosecution brought by William Percival Batlj (Mr. Kyd), against Mrs. Catherine Deinpsoy (Mr. Sullivan). Tho informant, who was defendant's son-in-law, alleged that defendant had used provoking mid insulting language toward him and 'tin wife, which was likely to be repeated, and lie made application for sureties. The defence was a complete denial of the allegations. Tho parties resided on opposite Hides of a street, in Ponsonby. After evidence had been given by both wide* the magistrate dismissed the information under section 92 of tho Justices of the Peace. Act, on payment of costs. A niiriilfw' information against Mrs, Rita Dii/iMvnn wan dinmiw*d, with costs against illflU'llltttlt. " ■ f)|«0n!»KUl-Y WHILE DRUNK. A bailor, Jatries Langill, who was stated to have iiiiml ft nuisance of himself at a restaurant and then created a disturbance in tin* pi it:.-it, was fined £% for bespg disnrtipcly while drunk,'