ASSAULT ON DETECTIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20261, 22 May 1929, Page 13

ASSAULT ON DETECTIVE.

INCIDENT OUTSIDE COURT. ARREST OF JEWELLER FOLLOWS. MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE. A mild sensation was caused outside the Magistrate's Court yesterday when a scufflo took placo between a detective and a .jeweller. The incident followed the hearing of a maintenance matter in tho Police Court, in which Sidney Rhodes Speight, aged 38, watchmaker and jeweller, and his wife were concerned. After tho case Detective O'Sullivan was talking with Mrs. Speight outside the courthouso in connection with a police inquiry ho was making. Speight came from the Court and attacked tho detective, who was struck and scratched on tho face and his clothing was lorn and damaged. Constable Buckley, Court orderly, went to Detective O'Sullivan's assistanco and Speight was arrested and taken to the police station. In tho afternoon Speight appeared in the I'olico Court charged with having assaulted Detective O'Sullivan and with committing mischief by damaging his clothing to tho extent of 10s 6d.

Chief-Detective Hammond said accused was separated from his wife and there was an order against him for maintenance. That morning accused had been before the Court for disobedience of the order and he had applied for a variation of tho order. The Court had not granted tho variation. After tho case Detective O'Sullivan had been speaking to Mrs. Speight outsido the Court on a police matter when accused rushed him, apparently losing his head for a moment.

For accused Mr. Dickson said Speight did riot know O'Sullivan. was a detective, as he was in plain clothes. Iho assault was admitted, as also was the charge of causing damage. Counsel said accused 3 business was not paying too well and ho was consequently worried about the order against him.

In convicting Speight Mi'. F. 11. Lcvien, S.M., said he would take into consideration the fact that accused had been under a mental strain. As tho detective was in plain clothes it was quite possible accused did not know he was an oificcr of tho law. Had tho officer been in uniform tho magistrate said ho v>ould have taken a more serious view of the case. On the charge of assault accused was fined £5, while on the second count ho was convicted and ordered to make good the damage. _____