OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 7

OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE

QUARRELSOME INEBRIATES SENT TO GAOL. Three men, who were arrested in the city on Monday, sth inst., after "violent resistance, appeared before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., in the City Police Court on the 6th on several counts, including charges of assaulting the police. The first offender was Samuel O'Leary, who was charged with drunkenness, with assaulting Harold Hamilton, with committing mischief by damaging a watch to the value of 7s 6d, the property of Sergeant Scandrett, with resisting the sergeant, and, further, with using obscene language. He pleaded guilty to all the charges except that of assault. Harold Hamilton gave evidence that accused caught him and twisted his arm. Accused was very drunk, and was making himself a nuisance. Sergeant Scandrett said the accused was molesting several boys and some young ladies in Manse street. When arrested he resisted very violently, and boasted that there was only one policeman in New Zealand who could handle him. The obscene language was addressed to the police in a loud voice. Accused v. as in the act of striiung a young lady when witness knocked turn down, and, with the constuoie, handcuffed him. Accused said he was drunk, and did not remember using tne obscene language or resisting the police. Accused was lined 10s, or 24 hours' imprisonment on the first charge, and £2, in default 14 days' imprisonment, on the second. He was ordered to pay for the damage done to tho sergeant's watch (7s 6d), or to go to goal for seven days on the third charge. On the charge of resisting he was lined 20s, or seven days' imprisonment, and for using obscene language £2, in default 14 days' imprisoment. William Gilbert Neil was then charged with drunkenness; with assaulting Constable M'Lean; and also with using obscene language. He pleaded guilty to all the charges, and said he did not remember what happened. Joseph Francis Bray pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing Constable M'Leaai, and assaulting and resisting Sergeant Shanahan while in the execution of his duty. The Magistrate said that from time to tine the Bench had endeavoured to impress upon people the seriousness of obstructing and assaulting the police. Assaults on the police were absolutely unjustifiable. Bray had committed a very serious assault on the sergeant. The court could net pass a thins- of that sort over lightly. The police must be protected, and the court was going to see that they ware protected. On the charge of obstruction Bray would b e fined £5, or one month's imprisonment. For the assault he would be sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and on the charge of resisting ho would be convicted and discharged. Noil would be fined 10s or 48 hours for drunkenness, and £2 or 14 days or. the obscene lang-uage charge. For tho assauit he would be sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment.