ASSAULTING THE POLICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 June 1926, Page 8

ASSAULTING THE POLICE.

FOUR.TEEN DAYS’ IMPRISON* AIENT. ■ SEAMEN IN TROUBLE. Charged with assaulting Rowland Moore AValdon, a police constable, in the execution of his duty, Samuel O’Shaun and Thomas Carey, seamen on the s.s. Canadian Conqueror, appeared before Air E. D. Mosley, S.M., at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning. Defendants, who were represented by Air J. T. Brady, pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Fahey stated that at about 9.30 on the previous evening five seamen off the Canadian Conqueror were in the Le Grand Lounge and creating a disturbance, and Constable AValdon, who was in' ...plain clothes, was asked by the proprietor to speak to them. The constable did so, and was afterwards accosted by the men in the street and assaulted. Constables Rlclnnes and Weam then appeared, and the men made off, but not before the constables liad captured one each. He characterised the assault as a particularly cowardly one, the constable having to contend with five of the seamen, who knocked him down and‘kicked him. Air Brady said that defendants wore among a crowd when the disturbance took place, and had no recollection of what part they had taken in the affair. In response to his Worship, the defendants said that they were both drunk at the time. • Senior-Sergeant Fahey stated that the men were not under the influence of liquor when received' at the police station. : In sentencing each of the two accused to. fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labour, his AVorship said that a fine was not adequate punishment. “The police have to be protected,” concluded his AVorship. Carey: “Couldn’t you fine us, sir?” , „ His AVorship: “You can have a fine as well if you like.” There was no further comment from the accused.