ASSAULT ON DETECTIVE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1929, Page 9

ASSAULT ON DETECTIVE

INCIDENT OUTSIDE COURT.

ARREST OF JEWELLER FOLLOWS.

A mild sensation was caused outside the Auckland Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when a scuffle took place between a detective and a jeweller. The incident followed the hearing of a maintenance matter in the Police Court, in which Sidney Rhodes Speight, aged 33, watchmaker and jeweller, and his wife were concerned. After the case Detective O’Sullivan was talking with Mps. Speight outside the courthouse in connection with a police inquiry he . was making. Speight came from the Court and attacked the detective, who was struck and scratched on the face and his clothing was torn and damaged. Constable Buckley, Court orderly, went to Detective O’Sullivan’s assistance and Speight was arrested and taken to the police station. In the afternoon Speight appeared in the Police Court charged with having assaulted Detective O’Sullivan and with committing mischief by damaging his clothing to the extent of 10s Gd. Chief-Detective Hammond said accused was separated from his wife and there was an order against him for maintenance. That morning accused had been before the Court for disobedience of the order and he had applied for a variation of the order. The court had not granted the variation. After the case Detective O’Sullivan had been speaking to Mrs. Speight outside the Court on a police matter when accused rushed him, apparently losing his head for a moment.

For accused Mr. Dickson said Speight did not know O’Sullivan was a detective, as he was in plain clothes. The assault was admitted, as also was the charge of causing damage. Counsel said accused’s business was not paying too well and he was consequently worried about the order against him. In convicting Speight Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., said he would take into consideration the fact that accused had been under a mental strain. As the detective was in plain clothes it was quite possible accused did not know’ he was an officer of the law. Had the officer been in uniform the magistrate said he would have taken a more serious view’ of the case.

On the charge of assault accused was fined £5, while on the second count he was convicted and ordered to make good the damage.