DRUNKEN MOTOR DRIVER.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16814, 4 June 1926, Page 6

DRUNKEN MOTOR DRIVER.

ARREST VIOLENTLY RESISTED. LOCAL CONSTABLE ASSAULTED. ONE MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT. With eight previous convictions all involving threatening behaviour and violence, a young, well-built, thick-sct Maori, named Jack Leaf, of Waihi, stood in tiie dock at the Hamilton Police Court this morning. He vias charged with driving a motor car in a state of intoxication, unlawfully converting a car to his own use, resisting arrest, and assaulting a constable in Hie execution of his duty. Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., was on the Bench. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney prosecuted. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney explained that yesterday morning accused drove in a service car to Hamilton to attend the Winter Show. He apparently tool: more drink than was good for him and in the early evening took from Garden Place a car belonging to a Mr Bonnici. He drove Uic car to St. Winifred’s Avenue, Glaudelands, nearly colliding with a service ’bus on the way. He went to a bouse in the street and endeavoured to gain admittance. The owner managed to get the accused outside the gate and went for Constable Carscldinc who lives in the vicinity. The constable arrested accused, who resisted violently, accused striking a blow at the constable which cut the latter's lip. He was eventually handcuffed and removed to the police station. Accused admitted the facts were correct, but stated that he had asked for a solicitor to appear on bis behalf.

The Senior-Sergeant: Yes that is correct. The police, jiowever, rang all the solicitors the accused named, but none of them were prepared to plead on his behalf. Accused added that he had worked for Bonnici, who had told him to take tiie car when he required it.

liis Worship: Arc you working for Bonnici now?

Accused: No, but I give him a band when lie wants it. Constable Carscldinc said accused showed fight and became desperate when ho endeavoured to effect an arrest. liis Worship: Yes, he is a pretty nuggety type of man. _ Examining accused’s previous list, iiis Worship remarked that there were a great many convictions for violence and the use of threatening behaviour. The cause of all the convictions apparently had been through accused being in a half state of intoxication. ~ .. Are vou going to leave the liquo. alone and take out a prohibition order? asked liis Worship, “because if you do I will reduce your term or imprisonment from two months to one month.” Accused: Yes, but when I was being arrested the constable had no helmet and I did not know die was a policeman. j liis Worship sentenced accused to one month’s imprisonment on eac-h of Hie four charges, the sentences fo be concurrent.