BREACH OF PEACE

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 7

BREACH OF PEACE

AFTERMATH OF KEG PARTY. At the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., Norman Jones and Joseph Grosvenor Kett were charged with committing a breach of the peace. Mr Gilfedder appeared for Kett and Mr Hall Jones for Jones. Michael Daniel Hughes said in evidence that he had been with a drinking party outside the Garrison Hall. Kett was also in the party. Jones, who was passing at the time came over for a drink and made a remark to Kett about Kett’s wife. Kett. then struck Jones who did not strike back. Witness then saw Kett chasing someone along the street. The pursued man was calling “Police!” The police arrived later and took the party along to the Police Station. Cross-examined by Mr Hall Jones, witness said he had not come to the station with the main party but had come afterwards to bail out one of the party. He had made a statement to the police. Stanley Bissett said he had heard Jones make reference to Kett’s wife, but did not see blows exchanged. Alphonsus Kirwin said he had been a member of the party and had been standing about half a chain away from Kett. He had heard no reference to Kett’s wife.

Sergeant Hewat said that he had arrested the men who were all under the influence of drink. Kett and Jones were the soberest members of the party. Both men had given statements, Jones stating that he had given no provocation for a fight. Kett said in his statement that he had invited Jones to have a drink. Jones had made insulting remarks about his wife and had stood up in a fighting attitude. Kett then struck him in the face. Jones went away and threw a bottle at him, so Kett had chased him. Witness said that Jones was the quietest of the party when the police took them in charge. Kett was inclined to be abusive. Mr Hall Jones said that Jones was clearly not to blame. He had not been drunk, he had not struck a blow, and the only allegation against him was that he made an offensive remark about Kett’s wife. This, Mr Hall Jones submitted, was a mere fabrication got up by Kett’s friends. Norman Jones, tram conductor, said he had been going home in the evening with Alsweiler, when the party had called him over to have a drink. Witness did not have a drink but was asked to contribute towards the cost of the beer. He then asked Alsweiler to come away. Suddenly, someone had rushed on him from behind and struck him several blows on the back of the head, knocking him in the gutter. He subsequently identified the assailant as Kett. The latter also threatened to knock Alsweiler’s head off. Witness then informed Kett that he would send for the police. Constables Duggan and Brown had arrived and the party had been taken to the Police Station. Witness said he had only spoken half a dozen words to Kett in his life and did not know that Kett was married. Harold Alsweiler said he had been with Jones when he was assaulted. Kett had knocked Jones into the gutter and then threatened to knock witness’s head off. Witness had then found that his bicycle had been moved from where it was before. He had found the bicycle subsequently. He could say definitely that no remark had been made concerning Kett’s wife. He had never seen Kett before and did not know why he should have committed the assault. Joseph Kett gave evidence contradicting that given by Jones. He said that Jones had made insulting remarks about his wife and witness had asked him to apologise. Jones refused, so witness struck him. Jones then went away and threw bottles at him, so witness chased him away. Cross examined by Mr Hall Jones the witness admitted that he had previously been convicted for theft and also for drunkenness. The Magistrate dismissed the case against Jones but convicted Kett and imposed a fine of £4.