THRASHED HIS SISTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 6

THRASHED HIS SISTER

“COWARDLY ASSAULT” DRUNKENNESS THE CAUSE {. - ■ OLD OFFENDER GAOLED Convicted of what was described 1 as ,a- cowardly assault on his sister, an old offender, Robert Alexander Little, .was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment liy Mr. P. 11. Harper, S.M, in the Police Court this morning. Little pleaded not guilty to that, charge, and to a charge of drunkenness, hut admitted having procured liquor during the currency of a prohibition order which lie took out against himself ‘last' Monday. Senior-Sergeant Wade prosecuted. ’ According to the' evidence for the ’prosecution the accused arrived at liis sister’s house late at night, and thrashed her and threw her out of the window, 'terrifying her to such an extent that she refused to return to the house while lie was there. “I am satisfied that you were drunk and committed this assault on your sister,” said the magistrate, after hearing the evidence. “Have you anything to say?” “I was very upset, and I had two or three glasses of stout,” replied the accused, who proceeded to make allegations against his sister to which the magistrate turned a deaf ear. Mr. L. T. Burnard, on the sister’s behalf, mentioned that on several occasions of' a similar nature he had been called in. The accused had not previously assaulted his sister, but ho had done everything short of assault. After a bad scene not long ago the accused appeared before the court, and his promise to keep away from the house and cause no further "trouble was accepted, and leniency was extended to him. His sister was terrified of him, and could not possibly return to the house while he was there. The accused had no right to visit the house, and it was only because of his mothor that lie had been allowed to do so. “I am absolutely satisfied that you are a hopeless inebriate,” said the magistrate, ignoring interruptions by the accused. “Since 1923 you have been before the court 20 ' times on charges arising out 1 of your over-indulg-ence in liquor—every- one of them. You were before the court only last Monday, when you were given another chance to make good in view of the •fact that you consented to take out a prohibition order, yet here you aro again. It just'shows that you haven’t the will-power to keep away from drink. Something will havci' to' ho done to protect your sister and your mother; it is not safe for them. Every time you have drink you create a disdisturbance, and it cannot be allowed to continue.” “Etverv possible leniency has been extended to you, but you have failed' to riiako good." Oil this''occasion you* committed a cowardly assault on vour sister. In your own interests and for tlie protection of your mother and sister the only thing to do is to give you a chanco to get- the liquor ouf, of'your system' and resist it in future,” , On tlie charge of assault the accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and on the other two counts’ he was convicted and discharged/