A SATURDAY NIGHT EPISODE.
At the Police Court tbis morning, before Mr N. K. Bowden, J.P.,. and Mr W. I. Ballinger, J.P., a man named Edward Sheen was charged with having been drunk on Saturday evening, with having resisted and also assaulted Constable Lewin in the execu- ! tion of his duty, and with having damaged, | to the extent of 7s 6d, a cab, the property of Robert Hull. The accused, who had been admitted to bail, did noi appear. Constable Lewin said that about 6.40 on Saturday evening he saw the accused staggering about on the footpath in front of Broadway's shop, . and- asked him to move on. He declined to do so, and witness arrested him. When bei% put int the cab he resisted, and struck and kicked witness. On the way to the police station the accused was kicking, and damaged the front of the cab. Robert Hull said that when the accused was brought to his cab he appeared to have "liquor on him." J. Finnerty said he bad assisted : Constable Lewin. to put the man into the cab: He appeared to be drunk. Sub-Inspector O'Brien said he had summoned a number of other witnesses, but the man did not appear to ' deny the charges, and he thought they had been amply proved. Mr C. M. Gray said he had witnessed the occurrence, and wished to express the opinion that the arrest was unjustifiable. The Bench decided to hear the other witnesses for the prosecution before taking Mr Gray's statement. David Waghorri said that he'thought the man was drunk. Chas. ,E. Hoddinott said that the accused was rocking about in front of the window. The constable advised him to go home, but he went on to the road, and ropeared to want to argue the point. Thos. Harvard, cabman, said that the accused was under the influence of drink. Sercrennt Rogers and Constables Brown, Birrett and Joyce, who had seen the ac^sed' at the police station, said that he w -.drunk or under the influence of drink. M- Gray said lie would like to state in the first place that lie did not know either the accused or the Policeman. When he saw the man, he was -"•audinsf in the road TifrrVtlv steady, rm 1 '••vero.l vouiw mi-n around were Jnijshinir •"d inking with him. The ronstnbl? had ■'■"Id him to movft-,ony but he did not do so, evidently considering that he had a right on the road. The constable then stepped off. the; footpath and took hold of the accused. •; The latter did not appear to realise that he was being arrested, and went quietly until, the constable tried to get him into a cab. Then he resisted, as had been statedMr Gray said he considered the arrest uniiistifiable, 1 as the man yras not half-drunk; He had gone alpng-to the police station and h)ld the sergeant that he would be at the Police Court that morning, and that' pro'■•ibly ace untcd for the appearance as;, witln'«w cfi""st or the police fpvee of C ; tn >v.l>irry. 'Hh.-.- \ m^ t ]-nwnv«r. only pc: n the •■"l-i ■iff.,-.!- hews rx-'ite:! with jUie stru>r<rle ' '"> Be^rh <i\h\ i hey were not quite satisfied r"*h the behaviour of Constable Lewin. 1 but in face of I he evidence they would havr v > convict-. For drunkenness they would <me him ss, in default twenty-four hours ; .*t the resistance ho would be fined a si-r>i-'"■r "mount : the charge of assault would be dismissed, and for the damage" to the cab he would have to pay ss.
A SATURDAY NIGHT EPISODE.
Star (Christchurch), Issue 6521, 26 June 1899, Page 3
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