MARKED FOR LIFE.

NZ Truth, Issue 105, 22 June 1907, Page 6

MARKED FOR LIFE.

Constable King's Capture,

Tall! rosy-cheeked Constable King is marked; for life. He achieved his soar—and, it is to be hoped, promotion subsequently — while doing his duty, and an' unpleasant duty it wasA dirty scrubber nam^d William Kirk had been out boozing somewhere ot other all ndght, for he was apparently unmistakeaibly drunk next morning, when Constable King found him lying asleep ,on'a 'doorstep m Madrasstreet, Chrisitchurch. He woke him up, but seeing that he was unable to stand or walk without assistance, he started off .for the watch-house with. him. All went well until they got to near the clock tower— where the prisoner made a halt, produced a bottle of beer from his pocket, and asked the constable's permission to haVe one more drink before he was locked up. King, of course, refused. The spectacle of a man m blue run-ningLJii^JjdjaijiltJl^ajid-^lia^^ some more en route to captivity would indeed bo unique. However, Kirk is alleged to have got nettled at this, and at once commenced to make trouble, resisting violently- He made two attempts to hit King' with the bottle, and the copper found it necessary to throw him. By some means the bottle broke when on the ground, and 'before the constable could get his hand from under the prisoner's ''head he was hit on the head and on the cheek with the neck of tbe bottle t/vvice or three times . He managed to handcuff the ruffian 1 , however, and m a cab coming along he succeeded m getting him to the station. He 'had suffered a good loss of 'Wood, and went along to tho Hospital, where iiis wounds were stitched up. No fewer than If) stitches had to be put m. Kirk was oh-aig©- 1 with assaulting the constable and inflicting grievous bodily (harm, on him. It was an indictable offence, of course, and tynewritten testimony was taken. Dr. Withers, house, surgeon at the'hospital, gave evidence regarding the injuries of King (whose face is still bandaged). There would always be a permanent mark on his cheek, the wound near the eye. The wounds received were such as would be inflicted by a broken, bottle. They weren't dangerous. Joh.n Trudgeon,. who saw

the unfortunate mix-up near the tower, and whp ran for. a cab (he himself being unable to render assistance), was fthe only witness of the scuffle on the road. He is- a paper seller. The prisoner asked him if he (the prison.-, er)i was -drunk at the time,; tout witness couldn't state definitely, . except to say. that lie was wild m his actions.. In reply to th© Bench, which proposed to commit Kirk for trials the latter asked that the charge be reduced to one of common assault. seei<n'3 that tire doctor said the wounds weren't dangerous. An absurd request which couldn't be complied with. So this 'boozy beauty will stand his trial at the next sessions of the higher court.