COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICEMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14282, 3 August 1908, Page 5

COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICEMEN

A CASE FOR INQUIRY. (Pep, United ?]{es9 Association-.) f AUCKLAND, .August 2. '■ A man named Frederick R. Rose was 1 arrested in Karaugahapo road on l-'riday i by Constable M'Galt'en on a. charge of . drunkeimoss, and yesterday was formally | charged at rim Police Court before Mr 0. (J. Kettle, S.M. E oso immediately protested _ against the brutality of his arrest. ' lie paid he had been walking up the street, when lie became doubled ui> with strangui latcd hornia, and by the time ho readied , ICaraiigahapu road his suffering was intense. ''1 had_ token no drink whatever | since 8 o'clock in the morning, and then '■ oidy a, cup of coffee," lie declared, adding > that he was dragged willy-nilly along to ■ the station between two constables, roughly pushed into a cell, and left there with no' j tea or refreshment whatever all that night, while he himself refused to cat anything ' tli© next morning. i ''Well, if what this man 6tates is truo I it is a most scandalous business," com- , menlcd thu magistrate. "It is truo," Rose declared, going on to express his opinion alxiut such a condition of tilings that made it possible for a perfectly sober man suffering with oxtreme pain to be thrust- into a dark -and draughty cell for the night as ho had been. Mr Kettle: "Did you not tell the constable you were in pain?" "Tiiey would not let me," said Rose. " Tliey threatened to put my head under the .tap." "What for?" "Oil, I suppose that is their practice." Mr Hendry: "Did you make any complaint about lining ill or suffering from strangulated hernia?" ! " I ilomawlod that Dr Gordon be sent for, and said he would prove that I wasn't drunk, but tho sergeant refused to sond because I had no money." The Magistrate: "Well, this is a matter that should lie prolied to the bottom." Mr Hendry: "I certainly agree with your Worship that the «ise is worthy of investigation." < The arresting constable said the prisoner made no complaint whatever alxiut suffering from any pain. All lie said was to ' deny that he was driinl:, and to ask that Dr Gordon bo sent for. Sergeant Sheenau was called, and donied absolutely that he saw or heard of any ! violence whatever to Rose. , Dr Gordon was aleo called, aud while, as tho result of a brief investigation, witnessing to -the fact that Roso was suffering from hernia, expressed tho opinion that it would bo difficult to confound the appcarance of a. man in acute pain with L a man who was drunk. "Well," said his Worship, "either it is a case of an extraordinary mistako or a case of deliberate perjury. I will adjourn the matter to allow of further investigation."