BOXER FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23382, 26 June 1939, Page 14

BOXER FINED

ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE

INCIDENT AT STATION DISPUTE IN CARRIAGE BOTH MEN MISS TRAIN [nv TELKGRAril —I'RKSS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON". Sunday Shortly before the limited express left the Wellington railway station last evening, a constable who was taking a prisoner under escort to Hamilton was assaulted. My the time the all air bad been straightened out the train was on its way with the prisoner, but without the constable. The incident led to the appearance in tho Police Court this morning before Mr. .1. L. Stout, S.M., of Adolph Victor Calteaux. aged 27. professional boxer, on charges ol assaulting Constable J. L. Patterson and of using obscene language. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector O'Neill s;iid accused was ;i well-known boxer who lived in Auckland and bad come down to Wellington for a contest, which was held in the Town Hall on Thursday. About 7 p.m. yesterday Constable Patterson, of Christchurch, wearing plain clothes, entered a second-class carriage of the limited express in charge of a prisoner lie was escorting to Hamilton. Iho constable had booked seats for himself and his prisoner, and they took possession of them.

Remarks About Luggage Shortly before the departure of the train accused entered the carriage with a suitcase in each hand and placed these on the seats behind the constable and the other man. lie addressed some remarks to tho constable nliout some luggage in the rack, but the constable took no notice and eventually accused struck him a blow across the face.

The constable got to his feet and grappled with accused, and a real meleo took place in the carriage. Eventually the constable succeeded in getting accused out on tho platform, where accused continued to struggle and use the language referred to. At last a local constable in uniform came on the scene and the whole matter subsided. ''Why did 1 pick on a 'cop'?" was the remark used by accused when he found out the identity of the man lie had assaulted. In the meantime, the train had left. "It seems to be a. case of mistaken identity," said Sub-Inspector O'Neill. "Apparently ho mistook the constable for some member of the public.''

Regret Expressed Mr. Tlardie Boys, tor accused. said accused was not a man who indulged in liquor, hut he had such a blinding headache that he took some stout, which no doubt affected him to a certain extent. After being delayed by persons wanting him to invest money on racehorses, ho arrived at the station just before the train was leaving and was in a very heated condition.

When lie found his reservation he discovered there was no room for his luggago and an altercation started when the constable, who was in plainclothes, said he was a constable. Accused had many friends among the police, but unfortunately he was hotheaded and of French extraction. The Magistrate: I don't think he would be very hot-blooded if lie is a professional boxer. Mr. Han lie Hoys said accused very much regretted the incident.

Accused Mas fined i.'o for assault, in default oiie month in gaol, and i'2 for using obscene language, in default 11 days in gaol.

DUTY AS ESCORT SECOND CONSTABLE ON TRAIN [bv telegraph—OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday The man who was proceeding to Hamilton under Constable .T. L. Patterson's escort on Friday night offered the constable every assistance in the course of tho melee which led to tho arrest of the. professional boxer. Adolnh Victor Caltaux, on a charge of assault. Tho man suggested he should go to Hamilton unescorted, but there was another constable on the train returning to Hamilton from escort duty and he accompanied the man to the Hamilton police station.