A BRUTAL ASSAULT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10138, 28 November 1918, Page 5

A BRUTAL ASSAULT

/CONSTABLE RECEIVES ILL-TREATMENT

TKAAItfAY OFFICIALS GO TO HIS ASSISTANCE.

John Casey, a burlv individual, was called upon yesterday before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M.. to answer charges of drunkenness, assaulting Constable HI. Hunt and using obscene language.John McDonald was also charged with insobriety and assaulting the constable. Henry Denham, a mate of Casey rind McDonald, stood charged wibli .assault and obstructing the DoTTSe.

Tlie charges of drunkenness were adnitted, but each of the accused piead;d not guilty to tho other charges. inspector Marsack said that at 6 j’clock the previous evening Constnoie Hunt, wno had recently come jut of hospital, noticed tho throe, accused Jn Manners street,, , Hearing, Uasey ’make use of obscene language tue constable arrested him. Casey resisted, struck and kicked, 'the constable. while Denham and McDonald went to Cnsev’s assistance. They commenced to “put, the boot ..in,” and jome ladies, who were passing, not icing thfft the constable was having a bad time, ran to the Taranaki street police station for help. The constable in his weifk condition would have been very,hardly dealt with had it not been for. some - tramway officials who went to his- rescue when ho was on the ground and almost unconscious. Constable Michael Hunt stated that while bn duty at 6 o'clock pn Tuesday evening his attention was attracted to the three accused, who were making..a commotion at the intersection, of Taranaki and Manners streets. Casey and McDonald - were-, drunk, -.and witness waited for a White To see if they would go away quietly. Casey then started to use obscene language, and when witness went to arrest him he was struck on tho face and mouth. Ho closed with Casey, who kicked witness, and the other accused attacked him from behind. Some tramway men then arrived on tho scene. Denham also punched witness von ,the face and McDonEldi’Usedihis boot. A 1 big crowd had gameted,-.; i-'W- -- - Joseph Charles Minifie, motonnan, said Tie arrived on the scene late and jaw a man. whom he now knew as Denham, running down Taranaki street. He then saw Casey trying to bite.,the. constable's hand, and McDonald got in front of him and said. “Leave them alone and let them have a fair go.” Casey was doing his best to kick the constable and witness was kicked on the liand when he,’,went;,to the rescue. The>-Oonstable was:-bleeding- freely from the nose and mouth. ' * ~ George H. Moore, motonnan, said ho Saw a disturbance in Taranaki ptreet and a constable trying to arrest Casey, who was resisting violently, Denham deliberately caught the constable by the head, turned his face round and struck him a violent blow on the face, making his nose bleed. Denham then ran away, and witness chased him up Taranaki street. McDonald tyied’td hWach" thef'ttinstablo on the face when witness' stopped him, hut he Understood he did so afterwards. Casey was striking the constable and using very bad language. Denham (to witness): Are you sure that it was me you saw strike the--1 constable ? witness: Yes, I got a good view of you and was coming to crack yoU. I won’t stand by and see a man illtreated. ■ . . ... that two ladies came to the Watchhouso and reported what was taking place in the street. One of the accused was pointed out to witness and ho was arrested, and Donliaih was seen streaking along Dixon street. Witness intercepted him and brought him to the station. The magistrate said ho had no, doubt about, tho case. The three .accused were making common cause, and xwp of therp were trying to assist Ossey. The,.assault they committed on the constable r was . both brutal and cowardly. Inspector Marsack said that the police were labouring under great difficulties and [required all the protection that could oe given to 'them. The magistrate said he had again to thank the tramway officials for going to the assistance of the police. It was vbry pleising to find men Coming forward to help.lit 1 Was the duty ot every man worthy of the name to uphdld the la#, and tlm police required assistance, i more especially as huff ofthe force -Were down with influenza. .When cases of the type that had been □roved against the defendants came before the court the only way was- to deal with-them firmly. Ifc wag regrettable that; a certain class looked upon policemen -.as fair gaihe, particularly, when the/police were in the minority. Each of the accused would ho sentenced to' three months’ hard labour' for assaulting the constable, and coni victed aftd discharged' on tho other counts. -Jenham; Will you make it a fine sir? ■ The magistrate: No, just- threemonths, /