CONSTABLE ASSAULTED

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 9

CONSTABLE ASSAULTED

MAN SENTENCED TO 14 DAYS’ HARD LABOUR. John Keven was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning with assaulting William Campbell Brown, a police constable, while in the execution of his duty; also that he used indecent language in a public place and did damage a uniform to the value of 2/1, the property of Constable Brown. Mr F. G. Hall-Jones appeared for accused and Sergeant Hewitt represented the police. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and elected to be dealt with summarily. The charge of damaging the constable’s uniform was subsequently withdrawn. Sergeant Hewitt said that Constable Brown was on duty at the comer of Yarrow and Mary streets the previous evening when accused came to him and used the language complained of. He was warned to go home, but did not heed the warning. Accused was under the influence of liquor and resisted when arrested, with the result that the constable was considerably knocked about. “He seems to take a delight in accosting police on duty,” said the sergeant. “He looks upon the police as a natural enemy. It was purely a case of drink. Th'e man is quite decent otherwise.” Mr Hall-Jones said no doubt the trouble was drink. Accused was a capable worker, but a little drink seemed to make him fighting mad. His Worship (Mr G. Cruickshank) said the man must, be punished. It was the same old thing every day. Drink, drink, drink, was the cause of all these troubles.’ Accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour on the charge of assault and convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on the bad language charge. He would also be prohibited for one year.