CONSTABLE OBSTRUCTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20528, 1 April 1930, Page 13

CONSTABLE OBSTRUCTED.

"A DISGRACEFUL SCENE." THREE YOUNG MEN INVOLVED. [nv TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Monday. " It was a disgraceful scene with possible serious consequences," said SeniorSergeant Sweeney in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day when Francis Bernard Robinson, aged 20, and Raymond Victor Lawless, aged 25, were charged with obstructing a police officer.. Herman Mf.gner (Mr. A. L. Tompkins), aged 25, was charged with assaulting and resisting a constable, and with using obscene language. Tho three accused pleaded guilty.

Senior-Sergeant Sweeney said the charges resulted from an incident, which had occurred at Frankton, when the accused uere in company with a number of other young " hoodlums." The constable on duty was questioning a man when Robinson interfered. Magner then followed the constable and threatened him, using the obscene language with which he was charged. When the constable attempted to arrest Magner lie resisted and struck him in the fare. A large, crowd then gathered, but only a. few were hostile, said the senior sergeant. Magner continued to strike the constable and called two men to his assistance. Eventually, with the help of two civilians, the three men were taken to the polico station. The senior sergeant, and tho justices of tho peace who had heard the case said tho two men who had assisted the constable wore to bo commended for their action.

Mr. Tompkins pleaded for leniency on behalf of Manner, stating that the assault had arisen out of a misunderstanding. On the charge of using indecent language Magner was fined £5, in default a month's imprisonment. A penalty of £3, in default ono month's imprisonment, was imposed on the charge of resisting tlio constable. On the charge of assault accused was convicted and dismissed without penalty. The other two accused were fined £2, in default 14 days' imprisonment.