SATURDAY'S FRACAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 60, 28 March 1944, Page 5

SATURDAY'S FRACAS

TUSSLE WITH POLICEMAN

MAORIS HEAVILY SENTENCED

What to all intents and purposes apparently developed into a first class fracas on the Strand last Saturday and included besides the spiriting off of a cask of beer, assault of one of the local police, obstructing him in the course of his duty and also the use of obscene language, found echo in the Whakatane Court yesterday morning when four sorry looking defendants, Charles Howard (alias Jack Howell), Joe Hona, Wliaiwhai Hon a and Pat Ratahi answered 1 a variety of charges covering the incidents enumerated. Messrs C. E. Christensen and T. J. Cum-i mings, J.P.'s, were on the bench. According to tJio police the four accused who made the piisoners box look like a grandstand Avhen they al] crowded in, were the main characters* in the incident which occurred in the side street from the Whakatane Hotel about O'.JK) p.m. on Saturday evening.

For some time past, said Sergeant barrel], the. police had had many complaints Avith regard to a certain red lorry Avhicli Avas, suspected of running beer out to the Maoris.' Anonymous letters had been receiA'ed to that effect and Avhen the truck was seen jKirked near the. hotel a close Avatch Avas kept on it. Constables Thomasscn and Thom Avere in the vicinity the latter being in plain clothes. Constable Thomassen was called aAvay and soon, after Constable Thorn not-iced a Maori (Joe Hona) rolling out. a 10 gallon beer cask. He immediately intervened but Hona refused lo answer any questions. A number of other Maoris then came round including Howard, Wliaiwhai Ilona and Ratahi. lloavard became Aery abusive and Ihreaening and finally struck him across the face. Joe Hona also struck him while the other two jostled him aside Avhile HoAvard lifted the keg on to the vehicle and Ratahi drove off. Escape by Taxi Constable Thom Avent aAvay for assistance but on his return the remaining Maoris had decamped by taxi. On Sunday Avhen the police visited Paroa all four accused had been arrested, but refused to state where they had taken the liquor. Unlike the average Maori, defendant, the four accused pleaded not guilty and loudly demanded a solicitor. "You took a long time to make up your mind about that," returned the bench. HoAvard Aviio Avas handcuffed to 'Joe Hona declared that he had neA'cr alloAved the policc to take a statement from him and was therefore entitled to a proper defence. "I am a stranger here," he added, "and don't know anybody." The bench: "You're not. a stranger to the police. Your list shows 15) convictions coA'ering almost every crime on the statute books." Hona likewise admitted that lie too had a substantial list. Howard was sentenced to two months for assault and three months for obscene language sentences to be cumulatiA'c. Joe Hona for assault Avas sentenced to two months, ami WhaiAvhai Hona and Pat Ratahi to two months each for obstruction.