SERIES OF ASSAULTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10560, 10 April 1920, Page 7

SERIES OF ASSAULTS

A “ FIGHTING DRUNK "

UNFORTUNATE FIRST-OFFENDER That a seaman who was “fighting drunk” should be placed in a coll with him was a decidedly unfortunate happening for a young man—well connected and occupying a good position —who had been arrested for a breach of tho law requiring sobriety. ■ The story was told at "the Police Court yesterday by Sub-Inspector Emerson with reference to charges against. Alexander Loomus of being drunk and of assaulting a Chinese fruiterer, Ah Hoc. According to the facts placed before the court ,tho accused entered a Chinaman’s shop in Manners street and straightway upset cases of fruit. This proceeding somewhat annoyed the Celestial, who ventured upon the street and summoned a- policeman. Ho was followed by Loomus and severely assaulted, being knocked down and kicked. However, a minion of law took the offender into custody and. ho was taken to the Taranaki street Police station, where he was placed in a cell with the aforementioned firstoffender. Shortly afterwards, the attention of the watchhouse-keoper was attracted 1 by a disturbance, and an investigation revealed loomus playing havoc with his companion in trouble. The latiter. who was callcd_ as a Witness, was in a. pitiable condition. Both eyes were partially closed, and his face was very badly battered. A severe abrasion to a lip had necessitated several stitches and both ears were badly swollen and bruised. Apart from the im’urics described, his trench coat told a' vivid story,_ from the neck to the waist- it was literally covered in blood stains. Tlie accused, on oath, alleged that he had been assaulted first, but tho only signs he bore were abrasions on the knuckles of his hands, and these, the sub-inspector suggested, wero caused by his man-handing of the other man. , ... The magistrate, who described the assault as very violent and brutal, imposed a fin© of £lO, or in default three months* imprisonoment, for the assault in tho cell, and he directed that half the penalty should be paid to the in lured man war of compensation. Loomus was also fined £5 for assaulting the Chinaman, £1 for, drunkenness, and was also ordered to pay all costa. ASSAULTING A RIVAL. REJECTED SUITOR’S REVENGE. Charges of assaulting _ Joseph Robert Nicholson were admitted by William "Mallard and William Gordon Johnston. Sub-Inspector Emerson said that circumstances were removed from the ordinary. Mallard, _ who had been keeping company with a, young lady, was rejected in favour of Nicholson, and as a result he evidently was moved to petty spite. On the night of tho offence, the two accused lay in_ wait for Nicholson. Mallard struck him on the head with a bag containing a bottle, and as he turned round five severe blows in the face. A fight ensued, and _ this lasted for some considerable time; in fact, the men were separated by some tramway officials. Nicholson, who did not know cither of the accused, was very badly knocked about the face and had to receive medical attention. There was reason to believe that Johnston, a youth suffering from a paralysed arm, did not know why Mallard was laying in wait for Nicholson. Certainly ho took little part in the assault. The magistrate remarked that both youths had pleaded guilty to tho charge, and therefore each would bo fined £5 and £1 7s costs.