ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 31, 31 October 1918, Page 4

ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE

CHARGE AGAINST A YOUNG MAN. Before Mr. F. V. Fraser, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Thomas Marchbonk was charged with assaulting Constable Ronald W. M'Millan on October 19, so as to cause'actual bodily harm.

Senior Sergeant Willis, who prosecuted, 6aid that on the day in question the constable was arresting a man for dmnkness, and there was a bit of a scuffle, but the man went along quietly until they readied the corner of Vivian and Taranaki Streets, when he began to resist, and kicked violently. The constable was at the time obstructed )>y a soldier in uniform. A large crowd got together, and the constable struggled with the man, and both fell to th& wound, with ■the constable on top. M'Millan was proceeding to handcuff the man when his helmet was kicked off, and he received a violent kick on the ribs, which laid him out, and the ■prisoner escaped. He was taken home in a taxi-cab, and Dr. Mackin attended to him, and Inter Dr. Henry was in attendance. He had two ribs fractured.

, Dr. Henry said he was willed in to attend Constable M'Millan, «\d found that he had two ribs on the right side fractured. The injury could have been produced by a fall or a blow. Constable M'Millan gave evidence on the lines of the senior sergeant's opening statement.

Arthur Lein, tram conductor, soid that his car was coming along Vivian Street towards town, and when near the corner of Taraoaki Street the car was pulled up, because there was a crowd. He raw a constable trying to 'arrest a mail. Tho latter was putting up a fight. Tie witness presently saw the accused kick the constable. The accused was a passenger in the car, and jumped off at the scone of the scuffle. Ho said: "I om into it!" when he jumped off tlio ear. The accused kicked the constable once;-after that he got on.the car again, and travelled to the next stopping-plow, where lie got off. Motorman Goss wns driving, and Inspector Liardet wns on the , car. Charles H. Goss, motorman, said he was driving a. car on the (late in question along Vivian Street towards town. At ihe corner of Taranaki Street he had lo pull up (lie car because of a crowd. He saw the constable trying to arrest a man, and <i number of civilians were obstructing the constable, lie feaw the accused kick the constable; lie saw that plainly. The 'man got on to the car again, and got off a* the corner of Vivinn and Cuba Streets. Tlio mnn was hooted by tho passengers in the car, who considered ho had done a dirty action in kicking the constable. Hector. Liardet, tramway inspector gavo evidenco corroborative of that given b>^ tlio two previous witnesses. Die accused, who was represented by Mr. A. Barker, pleaded not guiltv. and was committed to the Supreme Court for