MORE MEN BEFORE COURT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 9

MORE MEN BEFORE COURT.

TEN BROUGHT UP;

REVOLVERS, IRON BAR, & OTHER CHARCES. FIFTEEN COUNTS. What aro now commonly known as "strike cases" form a fairly regular featuro at tho sittings Of tho Magistrate's Court. Yesterday the sitting was prolonged until four o'clock, and a long list of charges focussed tho attention of the Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.). Dangerous Missile. Richard Jones pleaded not guilty to two charges—ono of assaulting Joseph •May, a police constable, while in tho execution! of his duty, and another of using threatening behaviour in Tory Street on November 8, thus causing a breach of the peace. Mr. J."F. W. Dickson appeared for accused. | Constablo, May gavo evidence to the effect that he,was riding through Post Office Square with tho mounted squad on October 30, and, on three occasions, ho saw a man whom he 'believed was the accused, with an iron bolt or bar in his possession. .' The man threw it at him once, it was thrown on one other occasion, and later witness saw the man with it again, and his arm thrown back, as though he was about to hurl it again. Witness then drew his revolver, and said, "If you throw that, T will drill you." Tho man dropped the bar and ran. Subsequently _a man made a clutch at his horse's bridle, and he felled the man with his baton, but did not see who the man was.

To Mr. Dickson: To the best of my belief that _is the man, but I cannot swear positively. Detective-Sergeant Rawle stated that he' had known Jones for some years. On October 30 he saw Jones following the horses in the squaro. . Accused had a bar of iron, in his hand. He had also seen the man in the act of throwing, a stone, and subsequently he noticed him lying on the ground opposite. Messrs. Turnbull's warehouse. The; side of his face was swollen, as though he had been hit by something. Mr. Dickson asked Detective Rawlo if he would swear that Jones, was in the Square, at 5;40 p.m. . Detective Rawle: Yes.

i Mr. Dickson: If I call two witnesses to say that he was not there, will you say they are lying? Detective Rawle: Yes, they would be lying and committing perjury at that. • Mr. Dickson: Of course, you could not commit perjury. Chief-Detective Broberg (who was conducting* the case) protested against this remark by the solicitor. The Magistrate (severely): You must not make a remark like that. _ Jones was then called by his'counsel. He swore that he was not in the Square at the time of the trouble. He asserted that he was in the four-penny bar of the Pier Hotel. : ' Accused was then cross-examined by Chief-Detective Broberg, and some of his statements were afterwards contradicted by witnesses with whom he went into_ the Pier Hotel. His Worship sentenced the man to six weeks' imprisonment. Offensive Epithet. The second charge against Jones was then taken.. Evidence was given by special- conStitbles''toH-ha l 'efFei , t , 'thiit'-tWit j were riding ' past the <sbrilfe"i-'' of Tijfy Street.and College Street when accused, who, they stated, was' "waving his hands like a madman," had called out I a very, offensive; epithet., Accused had / thereupon beoii followed, and had rushed down a street into a house. ' He had, however, been pursued into the house, and was found in a passage with a coat over his head, • endeavouring to hide. Some stones had been found in his pocket. He had been handed over to the police. Mr. Dickson asked the first special constable if, he had not used certain offensive words in directing the pursuit. This the. witness denied. 1 .Mr.'Dickson: Did any of the other constables use these words P Witness: I did not hear them. You know we are not all saints in- the special'constables

His Worship: If you wish to proceed with, the matter you must charge one of the constables with using the words. Mr. Dickson: That is what will follow subsequently.' Evidence was given by Jones and three or four witnesses to the effect that accused, had not used the language mentioned in the charge, but had just called out: "Now you have got your butter and cheese aboard you won't get ;it away." Accuscd himself stated that he had used these words, and had thereupon been pursued by tho constable into a house and knocked on tho head with a baton. In imposing a fine of 405., his Worship remarked that if accused had only "used the words: "Now. you have got your butter and cheese aboard," etc., the special constables could not havo taken exception to them. Two special constables, however, had 6worn that accused had used the language ' complained of, and, it was beyond his comprehension that; tho constables would have pursued accused and arrested him for the inoffensive language which the man said that ho used. 'The alternative to the line, was fixed' at seven days' imprisonment. Onlooker and- Bellicose Conductor. Hugh Collins was fined £1 on a charge of his having used threatening behaviour on Novembor 5 in Foatherston Street, thereby creating a breach of tho peace. . Tile fhcts as. disclosed by the evidence were that Collins" had been looking on at proceedings in Feathorston Street during afternoon of November 5, and that wlien "the police arrested "a woman he remarked that tho woman should havo stayed- at home. A tram" conductor named Mooro thereupon hit him over the head' and face with his bag, and Collins retaliated by punching Moore. Detectives Mason and Cameron separated the pair, and as they scorned disposed to continue the oncounter arrested them. Mr.-A. Fair, who appeared; for Collins, submitted that a conviction should not be recorded, and His Worship said that if Collins had stopped immediately the detectives separated tlio two ho would not havo convicted him. Mobbing a Constable. Allegations of a mob kicking a constable who was down were made during tho course of a case against Frederick Thompson. Ho was charged with having, on November 15, in Martin Street, used insulting language, to wit, "You aro a dirty scab," with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, and also with assaulting David Cantloii, a constable, while tho latter was in the execution of his duty. Inspector Hendrey stated that Thompson called out certain language to someone in Martin Street. A constable had attempted to arrest him, but tho man throw him to the ground. A crowd of sympathisers gathered, and kicked and otherwise molested the constable. Aided by tho crowd, Thompson got away, but the constablo afterwards arrested him. On the first charge accused was remanded to November 24, bail being allowed in £5 and two securities of £fl, mul on the second charge ho was fined £3. Fire Brigadosman's Language. A youth nf 13 vears named Leonard

Larkins, a member of tlio fire brigade, appeared to answer a chargo of using obsconc language in Jervois Quay. Accused, who was represented by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, pleaded not guilty. Harold Routhwell, special constable, Btated that lie was on duty with some other special moil nearly opposite tho Fire Rrigade, when accused lia(l made uso of ccrtain language to him. Accused had then made a rush at him, and witness had closed with him. Ho (accused) had then been hustled across the street by witness and some other special constables, and, in-the centre of tho road, had used the language mentioned in the charge. A constablo arrived at that moment, and Larkins had been Landed over to him. Two other special constables gave corroborativo evidence. By way of defenco. Larkins alleged that one of tlio special constables had made use of tho language, and not lie. Just as tho words were being uttered a constable had come up, and, attributing the words to him (accused), had taken him into custody. His Worship: The weight of cvidenco is against defendant. Apparently ho lost his temper and used tho expressions in a moment of excitement. Ho mil be fined 505., in default of seven day's imprisonment.

Masqueraded as a Special. Traversing, Cuba Street, waving a stick to which was tied a handkerchief, and calling out that ho was a special constablo was the peculiar conduct credited by the police to ono George Hampshire, who, by the way, is not a spccial constable. Hampshire appeared in Court yesterday charged with disorderly behaviour wliilo drunk. He pleaded guilty and was fined 405,., with the option of seven days' imprisonment. Hampshire was also charged with assaulting some constable unknown in Cuba Street on November 5 by throwing a mug at him. The ovidence given showed that accused had been standing at the corner of Garret Street and Cuba Street on November 5, and as tho mounted police had passed had thrown a mug of beer at them. , Accused was fined £3. Alleged Attempted Murder. Three charges were preferred against John Patrick Hassett. The first charge was that, on November 3, ho took part in a riot in Taranaki Street. The second charge-was that on the samo date he attempted to murder John Cullen, Commissioner of Police. Tho third charge was that, on November 8, he assaulted ono William Taplin. On the application of Mr. P. J. O'll-egan accused was remanded for a week.

Alleged Revolver Firing. Edward Calclough was charged with on October 30 discharging a revolver at certain mounted constables with intent to do grievous harm. On the application of Mr., J. I l '. TV. Dickson ho was remanded till November 2G, bail being refused. Remanded. Cases. Antonio Stuparich ; charged with taking part in a riot in Waterloo Quay on October 30, was remanded for a week on the application of Mr. H. F. O'Leary. Bail was allowed in £150, two sureties of £75, and one of £150. Remands were granted to November 24 in the following cases Albert Hewson, charged with assaulting Frank Duncan Herrick on November i 5, and John Paton charged with assaulting some person unknown on November 5. Bail was allowed in each caso to the amount of £80, with two sureties of £40 and one of £80.