UNGRATEFUL MAORI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 16

UNGRATEFUL MAORI

ATTACKED HOSPITABLE SEAMAN ONE MONTH’S GAOL In return for the kindness he had received at the hands of the crew of the Rimutaka, Thomas Kelly, a Maori seaman, aged 33, attacked a trimmer off the vessel in Queen Street last evening. He appeared in the Police Court this morning. TZ"ELLY pleaded guilty on charges of -*A- drunkenness, obscene language and fighting. Edward Vincent, a trimmer, aged 40, pleaded not guilty on a charge of fighting in the street. According to Sub-rnspector McCarthy, Kelly had used the language in Queen Stret about 5.35 p.m. “There is no doubt that the two men were fighting, but I shall put Vincent in the box and he can tell his story,” he added. Vincent claimed that Kelly had been royally entertained on board the Rimutaka. He had then been taken ashore for further entertainment. “We had a stimulant,” said witness. “Kelly became abusive and knocked me over. I got up and hit him, but only in selfdefence, your Worship.” The sub-inspector mentioned that Kelly had a long list of 23 previous convictions, including vagrancy and assault. The charge against Vincent was dismissed, but Kelly was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment on the obscene language charge. On the other two counts he was convicted and discharged.