POLICE PRACTICES.

NZ Truth, Issue 91, 16 March 1907, Page 4

POLICE PRACTICES.

HOW THEY TREAT THE

DRUNKS.

An Old Man Brutally Bashed

and Banged.

When o. drunk gets run m he geni erally has a bad time of it at the hands of the arresting copper and his pals at the lock-up. The average drunk is an argumentive sort of cuss, arid a policeman has no time for arguments at all. Consequently a peremptory demand to shut up and a back-hander if he doesn't generally falls to the prisoner's lot. Sometimes the drunk is inclined to be facetious, but who ever heard of a policeman having any sense of humor ? A harmless little joke earns a curse, and a way-side pleasantry a kick m the ribs when the cells are reached. It was something of this kind that happened to a Newtown resident the other day. He is a respectable man, having lived m Newtown for the last 30 years. On festive occasions he is apt to hit the pot a trifle hard, but even m his cups his legs are the only offenders, he's as harmless as a suckling babe. On this particular night he had been celebrating a birthday, or some thing, and, was getting home a little staggery when a copman spotted him and voted hkn pood goods for a case. So the old fellow was lumbered without further parley, and bumped into a cell. He objected violentl" to his treatment, and complained that ■ HIS RIBS WERE HURT by the rough ' handling he had received. Anyhow, nobody believed him and as he couldn't get bail he had to stay there until brought before the Beak. He was given 48 hours foE his indiscretion. He complained to the gaol authorities about his ribs, and demanded to see a doctor. He was taken off hard toil, it was impossible for him to continue with the pain of his injuries anyhow, and was told that the doctor would see him later. It was 4 o'clock before the doctor happened along and ordered him to the hospital. But- by this time his . 48 hours were about up, and , before he was able to receive any medical attention he was a free man again and sent forth to get patched up the best, way, he darned well pleased. The : pain m his side increased, and he went to Dr. Kemp, who examined him and pronounced one rib broken and two hurt. Fe bandaged the wounds and told tho patient that it might be a month before he' would be able to remove the bandages and feel fit for work' again. :Pbssiblv. r the policeman will suggest that the man being drunk fell down and injured himself. But even so, and such a thing would be very unlikely, how did the gaol authorities ctyme to allow a man to be-in quod for 48 hours without discovering that he .was m such a terrible condition ?