POLICE COURT NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22917, 21 December 1937, Page 20

POLICE COURT NEWS

BLOW WITH BEER BOTTLE SEAMAN ! FINED FOR ASSAULT A seaman from the ship Harmanteh, Lawrence Carroll, aged 40, appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with assaulting George Brown, another member of the crew, on Saturday. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Fox said that accused had struck Brown over the head with a full bottle of beer, following a dispute in the forecastle. Brown was found later by a constable in Britomart Place, in a dazed condition. He had to have stitches inserted in his head as a result of the assault. The sub-inspector added that Brown was reluctant to go back to the ship as he thought the crew would bear him a grudge, assuming he had laid, a charge. The charge, however, had. been laid by the police. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, imposed a fine of £3 and costs. A seaman from the Matakana, John Smythe, aged 29, was chained with using obscene language in Hobson Street on Saturday, assaulting Frederick Vernon Home, and damaging two panes of glass/ valued at £4, the property of Home. Sub-Inspector Fox said that accused had entered an hotel after hours, and when he was put out used bad language and broke two windows. On the assault charge accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, to be placed on board his ship if it leaves New Zealand before the end of that time. He was ordered to pay for the damage to the windows and convicted and discharged for using obscene language. Charges of fighting in Qifeen Street in the early hours of Sunday morning Mere preferred against Charles Treanor. aged '26, John Kenneth Griffin, aged 22, and Albert Thomas Ellis, aged 22 (Mr. Sullivan). All were labourers. Ellis was the only one to appear. Sub-Inspector Fox said a fight had started in a cafe, and continued outside. The three were arrested. Ellis said he had been trying to get a friend to leave the fight when he was arrested. Ellis was fined .'los, and Griffin and Treanor were fined £2 each.