JOHN v. JEHU.

NZ Truth, Issue 119, 28 September 1907, Page 5

JOHN v. JEHU.

CAB-DRIVERS IN A CYCLONE. An Extraordinary and Harsh Fine. Allegations of Roughness Against the Police.

When Alfred Russell, Jiansom cab driver, was arrested for drunkenness last Saturday. Constable Taylor struck trouble m a most unexpected manner. It was m the vicinity of Riddiford-street, Wellington, that the main incidents took place. When the bobby arrested Russell he found a hansom cab on his hands and was obviously perplexed what to do with io. In his distress, he called another cabman, the driver of a fourwheeler, to convey Russell to the police station. William Webb, the sa)4 -driver, climbed on to the seat of the hansom, handing the reins of hi« own cab to somebody else, and th< bobby and his victim got insirfj. At Coiisstable-street, which is ofi Riddiford-street, and where Webb's stables are situated, that nrgressive jeKu pulled m, or the constable says he did. The alarmed officer tf the latfr put up his hand to seize the reftis, which is a most unpardonable thto'g amongst cabmen, and the hosse was pulled into the kerb. Hefce Webb got down, and Taylor got put with his prisoner. There wa-1 a lot of conflict-inn; evidence as to who first rushed into hostilities, bufc all opinions agree that Webb am) the copper pot into holts m a soil; of

OATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN STYLE on the road, and that once the bokby was on top on another occasion Webb was top * dog, so to spt ik. The John was getting a bad time, when Constable Kerr came to his assistance, and together they secured Webb. Meantime, Russell, the alleged drunk, who denied that he had any hops m him, disappeared m the confusion.

To Mr Toogood. who appeared for Webb, Taylof said Webb wasn't asked to get off his own cab to drive the hansom ; he volunteered to do so.

A police witness named Henry Herbert swore that Webb had struck at the bobby, and then the tussle had taken place. Webb was on top when he saw the occurrence, but the bobby got Webb by the neck-band, and placing his knee on the other man's stomach, held him thus for about five minutes. Another witness, who spoke with a .Yorkshire accent, saw Webb actually hit the peeler, and during no time while he was looking on,' was tho policeman on top. According to a man named George Webster, the exact time of the exciting occurrence was a quarter to nine m the morning. He testified that

THE HONORS WERE FAIRLY EQUAL when the combatants were on the ground.

Webb, m his own defence, stated that he was driving up from the wharf on Saturday morning,- when the bofrby, who was m plain clothes, engaged him to drive a drunk to the station. "Webb had been up late at a ball. He put a boy m charge of his own four-wheeler and climbed up to steer the hansom. The way to the station was also the way to his stables, and he pulled up to instruct the young fellow where to put the four-wheeler. Thereupon the constable, who was inside the cab with Russell, reached up and pulled the reins m a most unwarrantable manner. This action pulled the vehicle into the kerb, and Webb descended and seized the horses head. Then the constable assaulted him.

Alfred Russell, the cabbie who was alleged to have been shickered, recollected being taken m charge, but denied the imputation of drunkenness with scorn and indignation. He had been out late with his cab, but nnlabsorbed two drinks, one at 3.15 m the morning, and the other near seven o'clock. The bobby was m plain clothes, and accosted witness near the grain store, much to his astonishment. In repr* 7 to Russell's expostulations, the policeman said. "No humbug ; you're drunk," and lumbered him. Prior to the fracas, Webb got down off Russell's hansom and took the mare by the head, when the bobby went for him. He didn't see Webb hit the constable, although he did see the peeler

WITH HIS KNEE ON WEBB'S CHEST. He heard remarks by the foy-starulers to the effect that Webb was being very roughly handled, although he did not offer resistance. Moreover, the policeman was m plain clothes, and his connection with the law wasn't apparent to the crowd. It was remarked by some of those present that the policeman was making all the trouble himself. John Still, a laborer, mane very similar remarks m the witness-box, but Henry Raymond, a Justice of the Peace, said it appeared to him Webb was being throttled by a person who didn't look like a constable when he appeared on the scene..

Alfred Binden, who also drives a hansom, happened to be passing, when Taylor unwarrantably hauled at the reins. His professional driving instincts received a rude shock, and lie remonstrated with the rash individual, remarking to him, "You might endanger that man's life."

Magistrate Riddell said the evidence was conflicting, but he considered the case proved, and would inflict a fine of £5, and order Webb to pay three witnesses fis each.