RIVER BANK PROWLER HIT A POLICEMAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18926, 23 November 1929, Page 1

RIVER BANK PROWLER HIT A POLICEMAN.

MAGISTRATE REGARDS OFFENCE AS SERIOUS. A charge of assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty was heard against Walter Archibald Cecil Burrough, aged twenty-four years, at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. He was further charged with disorderly behaviour and with wilfully damaging a wristlet watch, valued at 30s, the property of the constable. Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., was on the Bench. Chief-Detective Carroll stated that shortly after 11 o'clock last night accused was found creeping up towards couples who were sitting on the river bank at Cambridge Terrace. A constable observed accused, and warned him to go away. Accused then struck the constable and there was a tussle. The constable’s wristlet watch was damaged. A sentence of three months’ imprisonment was imposed on Burrough on the charge of assault, and on the other charges he w r as convicted and discharged. Subsequently Burrough was recalled, the Chief Detective stating that it had been found that accused was a married man with one child, and if he was sent to prison his family would suffer. “Constables have enough to do without having to contend with persons of the build and apparent ability of accused,’’ said the Magistrate, “and this type of offence is serious, but under the circumstances I will cancel the sentence of imprisonment, but accused xvill be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within twelve months.”