"I SOCKED HIM ONE"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 237, 13 November 1940, Page 5

"I SOCKED HIM ONE"

MAORI'S ADMISSION

IMPRISONMENT FOR ASSAULT

"He who laughs last laughs best." is probably unknown to Joe Hona, »i labourer, aged 23, and while it was not stated dur ing the hearing of charges against him that he had laughed, he did say in extenuation of an assault he committed that 'he got a bit funny with me . . ." As the result of the Bench's decision Hona will have one month in which to reflect that humour deserves a better reward that the 'sock on the jaw' which he admitted administering to Rai Kapoor in the Strand! on Saturday shortly after four bells in the first dog watch, On Monday Messrs G. A. Branant and J. G. Mulholaiid, Justices of the Peace, heard two charges preferred against Hona; one of assault and one of obscene language. Accused pleaded guilty to both after electing to be dealt with sum marily on the second count. Sergeant M. Farrell said that accused had apparently had liquor. At about 6.15 p.m. he approached Kapoor with a request for money, Kapoor refusing on the ground that accused had failed to repay previous advances. Stung by the refusal, accused struck Kapoor, cutting his lip and knocking him. down. The assault, said the Sergeant, was entirely unprovoked. It was while Hona Avas continuing the punishment that he used the language com plained of in the second charge, and lie continued to use it whilst being escorted to the lock-up. Hona, said Sergeant Farrell, had served three months Borstal detention, had been convicted of breaking and entering and was apparently a native requiring some control.

When asked if he had anything to say T Hona made vague references to 'him and me' and Avent on to say 'lie got a bit funny with me so I socked him one,' and later, 'lie pick on me, try to be funny,, so I sock him on the jaw.'

Hona Avas convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment on the first charge and convicted and discharged on the second.