CHARGE AGAINST A COINSTABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8779, 16 November 1906, Page 3

CHARGE AGAINST A COINSTABLE.

A WELLINGTON CASE,

[Per Prkss Association.] WELLINGTON, November 16. Constable Jeremiah O'Brien, who has been a- member of the local police force for about two years, was charged at the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court to-day with having stolen a sovereign from a man named Bernard Coghlan. The prosecutor's story is that on the night of October 30 he met two constables, one of whom spoke roughly to him. Coghlan took a note of the constable's words, having previously given the officer his name and address. O'Brien put his (Coghlan's) arm behind his back and rushed him off to the lock-up, where he said he would teach him to cheek the police. At the station, O'Brien struck him on the jaw, and told him to- stand up and b« searched. When he protested against the assault, O'Brien hit him again. After being searched, he was put in a, cell, but was, soon released. O'Brien took possession of all his belongings, including two sovereigns, but only returned him one sovereign. Coghlan denied that ha was drunk on the night stated, and that he had been refused a bed at an hotel because he was dirty. The case is proceeding.