.MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 7

.MAGISTRATE'S COURT

SAILORS IN TROUBLE

POLICE ASSAULTED AND

OBSTRUCTED

The proceedings at tho Magistrate s Court yesterday were presided over-by Mr. F.'V. Frazer, S.M. Two seamen, Alfred Johnson and Harry Jlartin, v.'Cro charged with having caused trouble.to tho police 011 Saturday afternoon. Johnson was charged : with drunkenness, with using obsccno language, and with assaulting Sergeant b. B. Lawards'whilst in tlie execution of Ins duty. Jlartin was accusod of having wilfully obstructed Constable W. Dudding in tho execution of his duty, with assaulting Constable Dudding, and with having nsea obscene language. It nppearcd that when Johnson -was being arrested for drunkenness he kicKed the sorgcant and made use of lwd language. Martin, who was with Johnson at the time, came to his mato s rescue, and kicked Constable Dudding to such an extent that' tho latter was bruised on various parts of the body. ' Tho evidence of tho police was that Jlartin was certainly under the influence of* liquor, but was not bad enough to bo elinvged with drunkenness. ... "Wo were having a farewell drink witti tho troops who' came- out with us on tlie Paparoa," said Johnson. ■ "Wo had not had a drink for two months. Both men denied all knowledge ot tlie affair with th« police. They .said they .were too drunk to remember it. His Worship remarked.that the police evidence was to the effect that Martin was not very drunk, therefore ho con 1(1 not understand why the accused should liavo no recollection of tho occurrence. "Wo both had tho same amount ot drink, sir," declared Jlartin. "That may be," replied-' Jtr. -Fritter, "but you might not have the sainß capar city as tho other" chap." ■ On the charge of assaulting the sergeant, Johnson was sentenced to seven days' hard labour, and for kicking Constable Dudding Jlartin was sent to gaol for a month. The defendants were, convicted and discharged on each ot'tlie other charges. His Worship remarked that lie knew sailors were difficult peoplo to deal with, but he could not. permit men, to act in tho way Jlartin had dono. Had he been a landsman he would bavo. boon sentenced to three months imprisonment.

' OTHER CASES. i On a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, in that slio had no visible means of support, Jfartlia King was sentenced to three, .months' imprisonment with hard labour. . . .Five first-offending inebriates wero each ordered to forfeit the amount of their bail,.los. ... , Quy Cockburn, who ; was stated to ha>o a long list ol' previous convictions- for drunkenness, was charged with insobriety and with having broken tho conditions ot his prohibition order. This was the sixlli breach of his order. On the second c '* ar S® defendant was lined. $!, in daj'B' detention, 1 and, on the-first charge he was convicted and discharged. His Worship said 'that if defendant came beioro the Court again lie would be sent to'Roto Roa Island. . . Isaac Dill was lined JEI, m default il hours'.detention, for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart. I,ouis Jlilner was ordered to pay 10s. per week towards the mnintennnco of his For Hie disobedience of a maintenance order in respect to his wife,' Ernest Sc'hmoll was sentenced to three months imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as 30s. per'week is paid, being tho amount the order and .is. per week off tho arrears, .£l2l. • Donald Jlatthew Fraser was ordered to pay his 7s. Gd.. per week, together with past maintenance amounting to .£ls. x