ASSAULT CHARGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 122, 12 February 1940, Page 5

ASSAULT CHARGES

MAORI FINED ON TWO COUNTS "UGLY SITUATION" DEVELOPS When Ka,rauria Kingi, a lab•ourer, aged 26, of Poroporo, was - charged before Messrs G. A. Brabant and R. W. Schofield, J.P.'ls in the Police Court on Saturday morning it was stated 'by Sergeant M. Farrell that an ugly situation had developed at 11 p.m. on Friday night, when a ■ crowd of Maoris gathered in the Strand, following a scuffle in a restaurant and it was fortunate «ihat nothing of a more serious nature occurred. Kingi faced charges of assaulting -Peter Coutts, assaulting Andrew Edward Coutts and committing mis•chief by damaging four glasses and a pane of glass of a total value of £1 Os 6d, the property of Peter CouttjS^^ Sergeant Farrell said that at 11 p.m. on Friday night the accused Avent into the restaurant owned by Mr Coutts. On account of his semitlrunken condition lie was asked to leave and he then assaulted Mr 'Coutts, who called for assistance. "During the resultant scuffle the ,glajsses and the pane of glass were broken. Accused had previous convictions. Kingi, who J-.ad pleaded guilty to sill charges, said he would like to be | fined instead of being 'put away.' His wife was ill and that was why he asked for leniency. The Bench: You realise that the charges against you arc serous? To -go into a restaurant and strike a man because he asks you to leave is serious. How do you propose to pay a fine? Accused said he could procure the money. He was convicted and fined £"> on each charge, in. default, one month's imprisonment on each charge, the -defaults to be concurrent. On the third count he was convicted and ordered to mak-.j restitution. At accused's request he was allowed three days in which to pay the fine but Sergeant Farrell objected. "We find it difficult to collect fines off the Maoris." said the Sergeant, "and with benzine restrictions operating w r e cant afford -to -chase them all over the country. - ' Accused was ordered to be detained in custody until the f.ne was forthcoming. BAIL ESTREATED 'CHARGE OF DRUNKEN'N KSS Allen Roy Peacock' did not appear when he was called to answer a charge of being found drank in a public place. Constable R. A. A. Prater informed Messrs G. A. Brabant and R, W. Schofiekl J.P.'s, w T ho were on the Bench on Saturday morning, that he had found Peacock drunk in the Strand on Friday night. Accused was bailed in a self surety of 10s. Peacock was convicted and, the bail was estreated.