WAS HE DRUNK?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2259, 3 August 1908, Page 2

WAS HE DRUNK?

AN AUCKLAND OCCURRENCE. A MAGISTRATE’S DILEAIAIA. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 2. A man. called Frederick R. Rose was arrested in Karangaliapo Road on Friday by Constable McGaffeii for drun'kenness, and yesterday was- formally charged at the Police Court before All - . (J. C. Kottlo, S.M. Immediately Rose protested against the brutality oil his arrest. He had been walking up the street when, lie became doubled up with strangled hernia, and by the time lie reached Karaugahape road his suffering was intense. “I had taken no drink whatever since 8 o’clock in the morning, and then only a cup of coffee,” lie declared, adding that lie was dragged willy-nilly along to the station lietavoeii taro constables, roughly pushed into a- coll, and left there with no tea or refreshment Whatever all that night, while lie himself refused to eat anything this morning. “A\ r ell, if what this 'lu-a-n states 'is true, it is a most scandalous business,” commented the Magistrate.' “It is true,” Rose declared, "ping oil to express his opinion about such a condition of things that made itpossible for a perfectly sober man, suffering with extreme pain, to be thrust into a dark and draughty cell for tlio night, as he had been. Air. Kettle: Did you not tell tlio constable you were in pain? Rose: They would not let mo. They threatened to put my head under the tap. The Alagistrate: AVliab tor? Rose: Oh, I suppose that is their practice. Afr. Hendry: Did you make any complaint about being ill or nrufferiiig from strangulated hernia ? Rose: I demanded that Dr. Gordon be sent for, and that he would prove that I wasn’t drunk, but the sergeant refused to send because I had no money. Tlie Alagistrate: AYell, this is n matter that should he probed to tho bottom.

Mr. Hendry: I certainly agree with Your Worship that the case is worthy of investigation. The arresting constable said the prisoner made no complaint whatever about suffering from any pain. AH he said was to deny that he was drunk, and to ask that Dr. Gordon he sent for. -Sergeant Sheehan wits called, -and denied absolutely that he saw or heard of anv violence whatever to Rose. Dr. Gordon was also called, and, avhile. as the result of a brief examination, witnessing to -the fact that Rose was suffering from hernia, expressed the opinion that it- would he difficult to confound the appearance of a man in acute pain with a man who was drunk. “AVell,” said His AA’orship, “cither it .is a case of an extraordinary-mis-take or a case of deliberate perjury. I will adjourn the matter to allow of further investigation.”