CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20868, 7 November 1929, Page 3

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, November 6. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.)

COMMITTAL TO ROTO ROA,

Samuel Henry Carter pleaded guilty to charges of being found nrunk in a public place, and of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. A complaint was also made regarding medical expenses incurred by the accused while observation at the Police Station, jb-mspcctqr Cummings said the accased lived with his mother, who was an elderly woman, and was not able to keep bira under control.—The accused, who attributed his lapse to despondency, asked for a further chance. —On the first charge he was convicted, and on the second he was committed to Roto Roa Island for a period of 12 months. No order was made in respect of the claim for medical expenses.

“A COWARDLY ASSAULT.” Giving the excuse that ho was drunk, Robert Johnatoo pleaded.guiltv to charges of unlawfully assaulting Arthur Alexander Reid and damaging a glass door, the property of Reid.—'Sub-inspector Cummings said that the complainant kept a service station at North Dunedin. On the previous evening at about 7.15 the accused called on him and asked him to a " account, but the complainant domed that he owed the money. The accused then assaulted the complainant, who asked a carrier who was passing to call the police. The accused followed him fu , I !P 1 aln assaulted him. then going to the till with a view to taking out the amount he considered he was owed. He then broke a panel in a door, and again assaulted Reid. He also assaulted a constable who came on the scene. Reid was a returned soldier, and the accused knew that he had been receiving treatment. The magistrate: This was apparently a cowardly assault. Have you anvtinner eay. Johnston?—Tho accused Baid be bad had a few whiskiw. and lie did not know what had really happened. Constable Gibson gave me all I wanted. 1 Ca J m# n2 ff 6eeond best.” added the accused,—The magistrate; I don’t think j,ou got half of what you deserved.— Ute accused added that he did not know mat Reid had been receiving treatment. —When tiie magistrate told the accused that ho had not made his position any better by tolling falsehoods in the dock, the accused attempted to deny that he had hed, but his Worship told him not to aggravate the position anv further.— Ihe magistrate added that the accused had previously been convicted of offensive behaviour, and the question was whether ho should be sent to gaol. "You don’*seem to be able to control yourself,” hii Worship added, " and the best thing that could happen to you would bo to strike what you would understand as a ‘ snag.’ ” —lhe accused intimated that he had struck one in Constable Gibson.—On the first charge the accused was fined £5, m aeraultono month’s imprisonment. On the second ho was ordered to pay the amount of the damage, in default seven days imprisonment. He also agreed to tako out a prohibition order.