A PUGILISTIC FARE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 2

A PUGILISTIC FARE

CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AND INDECENT LANGUAGE. John Ambrose Sullivan, ased forty yeare a sturdily-b iilt man, appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., at yesterday's sitting of the Magisstrate’s Court. Inhere wer© three cha-rgee preferred against hiui: that he assaulted James Simpson; also that he need insulting language; and was drunk. J anted Simpson said lie was a taxidriver. Ou January 29th the accused accosted him in the Cly<io Quay Hotel, and aeked ‘him to drive him home later on in the day* ' He later returned to the hotel, and accused asked him where ho had been He accused him of doing another job while he was under hire. *This witness denied, and to substantiate his statement he called another taxidriver, who a&survd the accused that witness had not been off Stand at all. Accused then invited witness into the hotel, where he punched him on the jaw. Witness said he took no notice ot .this offence, as he did not wish to get the accused into trouble. he was at the time under the influence of liquor. -Michael Burke, porter at the hotel, aaid he saw Sullivan strike Simpson twice. The constable, in hie evidence, said that when accused arrived at the -station and was charged with drunkenness, lie asked for two doctors; buit when he was told that he would 'have to pay for their services he said he would not bother. • Accused admitted using a certain .tatement to Simpson, but stated that as he had hired Simpson’s car he had no right to go away and do another job. “I satisfied that Sullivan had had one or two drinks too many,” said the magistrate. “He- wiil be fined 5s on the 'drunkenness charge; 40s for using indecent language; and 40s for assaulting Simpson, and also whatever witnesses’ expense* there are."