ASSAULT IN HOTEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19958, 29 May 1928, Page 13

ASSAULT IN HOTEL.

LICENSEE KNOCKED DOWN. TWO MEN CONVICTED. A melee in the Queen's Hotel in Symonds Street on Saturday evening resulted in the appearance of two men in the Police Court yesterday. William Peter Saunders, aged 28, was charged with assaulting Oliver Garland, the licensee, and George Reid, aged 42, was charged with refusing to quit licensed premises when requested to do so and with assaulting Thomas Svmonds. Saunders pleaded guilty, but Reid denied both charges. Sergeant Flannigan, who was ontside the Queen's Hotel at about 5.40 on Saturday evening, said he isaw the licensee at the door with Saunders, who suddenly struck the licensee, who wa3 knocked down. Reid was standirg behind in the doorway, his face covered with blood. There was a general melee in the bar and Reid was pointed out to him as tho man who was causing the trcuble. The licensee said he asked Saunders to leave the bar and accused refused. Witness seized him by the arms and took hira to the door, and then accused turned and struck witness. "I know very little of what happened after that," witness added, "but Reid was causing considerable trouble in the bar." Thomas Symonds said he was assaulted by Reid, and this evidence was corroborated by another witness. _ Saunders was fined £3. in default davs' imprisonment, and Reid was sej l " tenced to 14 days' imprisonment on the assault charge, and convicted and discharged on the other count. It is not, the first time I have put this man remarked the magistrate, F. K. Hunt, in passing sentence on R«id.