POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18946, 18 February 1925, Page 12

POLICE COURT NEWS.

HINDERING A CONSTABLE. CUSTOMS STREET AFFRAY. TWO MEN SENT TO PRISONCharges of drunkenness, fighting another person, resisting Constable Matthew in the execution of his duty, and wilfully damaging a pair of uniform trousers to the extent of £2 2s, were admitted by George Shaw, aged 46, before Mr. J. W. .Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said Constable Matthew saw two men lighting in Customs Street about 3,45 p.m. on Monday, and arrested one of them. While taking him to a taxi tho constable was struck by accused, who was then apprehended instead. The violent struggling and lacking of accused made the contable's task a difficult one, and his trousers were damaged. Mr. Poynton : Anything to say Shaw ? No, sir. Mr. Poynton: You have a lot of black marks against yon. One month for resisting, and convicted and ordered to pay for the damage, in default seven days' imprisonment. On tho other two charges you are convicted and discharged. Arising out of the same disturbance Edward Simmonds, aged 36, admitted obstructing Constable Matthew in the execution of his duty. When Shaw was being arrested, said Mr. Edwardsf accused tried to pull the constable away, and, but for the assistance rendered by a civilian, the consequences might have been serious. Simmonds was sent to gaol for seven days. GAOL FOR BREACH OF PROBATION. "The Court hesitates to give probation when men like you abase it," said Mr. Poynton to Harold James Tierncy, aged 29, when sentencing him to one month's imprisonment for failing to report to the probation officer when released on probation. The probation officer, Mr. W. J. Campbell, stated accused had had every opportunity but ho had failed to report or to notify the change of his address to Te Awamutu, where he was traced by the police, passing under an assumed name. He had been admitted to two years' probation for false pretences. AN UNRULY SEAMAN. A seaman on the barque Ariel, Josef Matsen, aged 36, was charged with wilfully disobeying the lawful commands of tho master, find with drunkenness in Queen Street. Captain Knutscn, of the Ariel, stated accused persistently got, drunk and refused to work. He returned on Monday in a drunken condition, and wanted to fight the crow. Regarding tho second charge, SeniorSergeant Edwards said that at about 6 o'clock on Monday evening accused was arrested in Queen Street, where, he was \ obstructing pedestrians and attempting to ! converse with women. On the first charge he was sentenced to seven day:/ imprisonment, and he was convicted and fined £1 for being disorderly while, drunk. FINED FOR ASSAULT. 'A fine of .£5, in default 14 days' im- ■ , pri.son.mcnt, was inflicted on Thomas Melling, aged 24, who pleaded not guilty to assaulting Albert Birchall on Monday. Albert Birchall, carpenter, stated he heard men talking outside his residence, and as his wife was ill in bed, he requested them to move away. Accused, who was one of the group, walked oyer to witness and struck him. When witness retreated, ho followed and struck him again. Accused stated he had only arrived from the country in tho afternoon, and had had one or two drinks. He was chatting with two friends when Birchall ordered them away, and hit him. " I thought. I was justified in smacking him back," he said. Tho magistrate ordered half of the fine ■to be paid to Birchall. SCUFFLE ON FISHING BOAT. A scuffle on a fishing boat at the Nelson Street Wharf on Saturday led to LudoTic.ii Colquhonn, aged 50 {Mr. Sullivan) being charged with assaulting Albert O'Brien. Complainant stated he and accused were partners in a fishing venture, and ihe | trouble arose over a financial matter. Accused struck him and pushed him into the cockpit from tho depk. His face was injured, and required medical attention. Constable Donnelly deposed that accused admitted having struck complainant Accused stated he and complainant came to grips and fell, the latter striking his face on the floor. Mr. Sullivan said the scuffle was admitted, but accused denied striking a blow. Accused was fined £2, half of the fine to be paid to complainant.