ASSAULTED CONSTABLE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1947, Page 7

ASSAULTED CONSTABLE

MAGISTRATE WARNS RETURNED SERVICE MAN Imposing a heavy monetary penaity on a newly-returned soldier who kieked a policeman in the face, Mr. C. C. Marsack, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North, said it was only the meritorious nature of accused 's service in the field that kept him out of goal for an ofi'ence that unquestionably merited a term of imprisonment. ' ' However, just beeause a soldier has rendered good service to his country, the court is far from tliinking that he can behave as he pleases when he returns hoine, ' ' said IVIr. Marsaek. "Now that you are back in New Zealand you must obey the laws of the country. The police are doing tlieir best to maintain law and order, but what chance have they got when there are people like yon. around?" He imposed the maximum fine of £20 upon Ernest James Bullott, of Caversham, Dunedin, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a police constable on the railway station on Tuesdav night. Senior-Sergeant R. Audley, who prosecuted, stated that accused had been a passenger on the WellingtonAuckland express on Tuesday evening. He left the train at Palmerston North and bought two bottles of beer. While taking the beer into a earriage aceused was stopped by Constable J. D. Anderson, who told Bullott that he could not take the beer aboard the train for con sumption, but that he could have it convcyed in the guard's van. Accused said that if he could not drink the beer on the train he would not leave Palmerston North. He followed the constable along the platform towards the guard's van. The train left the platform and accused missed it. Hc approached the constable and said: "This is where I beat you up." An altercation followed, in which the con stable was struck and kieked in the face, and suffered a broken nose and injured jaw. With the lielp of bystanders accused had been overpowered and taken to the police station. In evidenee, accused said he had agreecl to put the bottles of beer in the guard's van, but the train had pulled out bcfore this had been done. He said the constable had commented to some onlookers: "Just beeause he is wearing those ribbons he thinks he can do what hc pleases." Accused said he lost his temper and attaeked the constable, but denicd using his feet in the fracas. He had hit the constable under provoeation, he claimed. Benior-Sergeant: Do you remember spitting in "the constable 's face at the watchhouse? Accused: I spat on the blotter in t'ront of him. ' Senior-Bergeant : You are not very fricndlv towards the police? Accused: 1 atu neither frieudly nor antagonistic towards them. Constable Anderson said wlien he approached accused on the platform Bullott had not been drunk although he smelled of litj[uor. He denied mention ing accused 's ribbons, but told bim that even though he was a soldier lm cairn* withiu the sauie category as a civilian as far as witness was concerned. Ac cused had said: "You are the type ot uiongrei I went away and fought for. ' Mr. A. M. Ongley, who appeared for accused, said Bullott had scived five years overseas, liaving returued aboul a montli ago.