WAITARA DISTURBANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1933, Page 5

WAITARA DISTURBANCE

CHRISTMAS DAY TROUBLE. TWO MEN APPEAR IN COURT. Tom Ropu, who pleaded not guilty, and Charles Patrick Crowley, who pleaded guilty, were charged in the Magistrate’s Court at Waitara yesterday with, disorderly conduct in McLean Street on December 25. The charge against Ropu was dismissed, and Crowley was convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs. Crowley said that on Christmas Eve there had been a disturbance. He had not been looking for a fight but was standing outside the hotel talking to a friend. “I turned round and got it full in the face,” said Crowley. “Then Ropu turned round and rushed across into the billiard room where his mates were.

Constable Tocher said he would like to have the other defendant, Ropu, in the box, and the case was'adjourned till his appearance later. The magistrate consented, and the case was stood down till later in the morning, when Ropu appeared. Constable Tocher, giving evidence, said Ropu was under the influence <?f liquor on Christmas Day and when asked for his explanation said he was just “having his bit of fun.” Later, he told the constable that when they were walking in the street several strikers stopped him

and pushed him about and that Crowley dashed across the street and knocked him into the gutter.

Mr. Woodward, S.M., asked what the charge against Ropu was based on. Fighting in the street, answered the constable.

Mr. Woodward said Crowley had mentioned an alleged assault by Ropu the previous night. Constable Tocher said he had not been Informed of any assault, but had understood it had been Crowley’s provocation for what was said to have occurred next day. Mr. Woodward suggested that there should have been a charge relating to the previous day. Ropu detailed what had happened on Christmas morning, and how Crowley had interfered with him. On Christmas Eve, said Ropu, Crowley had pulled his mate by the’coat, and Ropu had merely pulled him away. He could not say how Crowley had lost the three teeth he had displayed in court. The magistrate: There is no evidence to show Ropu committed an assault. The charge against him will be dismissed. Crowley was treated as stated.