A BAD YOUNG MAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9910, 27 July 1910, Page 2

A BAD YOUNG MAN.

A LONG LIST OF CONVICTIONS. qI A y ? a un g man named Joseph Nicholls, alias George Nicholls, well-known to the police as the possessor of thirteen inrAXMrjnu rtoiifiAJ-,.,,,- £ ' . • • • w morning to answer charges of having" j"j uslng dbscene language and damaging a constable's rest to the extent of 12s. ,He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. A charge «j , resisting the police v/as withdrawn. " Constable Regan gave evidence that on July 19 he had seen accused in company .with a. prostitute, behaving in a disgraceful manner. Ho had . arrested ■; Nicholls, who had walked along quietly for some time, but had suddenly made a spring at him, and commenced to use obscene language,... Accused had alsc kicked the constable several times, leaving marks on tho hip and shoulder;' WIIOII handcuffed Nicholls had pretended to faint, and had used the opportunity to kick again, going through the same performance when the station was reached. He had torn the side out of witness's waistcoat. There was a large crowd, and it contained a number of women. ' . Accused asked the constable whetheil he did not say some weeks previously that ho would "fix him up." Constable Regan said that he had riot* seen Nicholls on the occasion mention*, ed, but about two months previously had warned him against living on money obtained from prostitutes. Sergeant Burrows said that he had seen the arrest, . and had noticedi Nicholls suddenly strike at Constable' Regan, and accused had- afterwards kicked Regan, witness , and l another man. The sergeant added that during twenty-six years' experience in the police force he. had never met such a ruffian. He had heard accused using obscene language when there were a number of people about. ; Nicholls said that the police had a down on him., and hunted him everywhere. Sub-Inspector M'Grath: "The Magistrates seem to have a down on you, too, for you have been convicted thirteen times already." ' . The Magistrate said that the convictions already recorded were seriou? enough. Nicholls said that he would be will- . ing to take out a prohibition order against hirtiself. , On the charge of drunkenness he was convicted and ordered to pay 7s 6d medical expenses, in default seven days' imprisonment. . For having used obscene language he was sentenced to one moil fclra imprisonment, and oa tho charge of damaging a constable's vest ho was, fined 10s and ordered to pay for the damaged yest, in default seven days' imprisonment.