A Salutary Sentence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1911, Page 3

A Salutary Sentence.

ON A FLAXMILL BULLY,

j Charles 01 sen, a German employed at a Koputaroa flaxmill, has i 'been transferred to more laborious employment. The circumstances were set out in the S.M. Court, Levin, this morning, when Olsen was charged with having unlawfully assaulted Edward Hurley, of Koputaroa. on the 11th instant. Hio bonoh consisted of Messrs H. J. Richards and F.- C. Remington, J.i Vs. Constable Bagrie prosecuted and Mr IMenkhorn was for the accused. who pleaded guilty. In -opening the ease, Constable Bagrie said that lie had occasion to arrest, Olson for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He resisted violently, and the constable then called upon Hurley to assist him. Hurley did so. Olson, 011 the Monday, was fined -D", with an opti'on of imprisonment, but he was given fourteen days in which to* pay the fine. On the Monday afternoon following the sentence hn was walking ou+ to Koputaroa. when he \was overtaken by' Hurley, was- riding a 'bicycle win reupoTi Olson assaulted him bo seriously, that the blood streamed from the cuts on his face, and ho had to bo medically attended to and kept confined for some divs in bed.

TCdw>"d Hurler, employed on Mr John Thunos's farm, Koputaroa, said that on Saturday evening. 9th instant. ho w~s cn'lod npo'i by Constable Bagrio to assist him in arresting Olson, who was drunk and d'cordovly. Ho did so. On the M'lndm* following was eveling ont to lv:n-'tn' ,, o- 1 vlvn ?>« "•reptook 0 1; e>i who wis -*n rompnny \riMi f"vi other m«m. Olson rein arko:? oilher fi-at witness hod locked him nn or helped to loch him nn. nnd h" moved towards witness and struck him severely on the temple. Witness did not- fall. and 01-' on then struck him again, and lie wont down. When he was able to get up he asked the other men to protect him, hut they did nothing. Witness's eyes and month were badly cut, and lie had great difficulty in going 011 his way. Ho had to he treated by the doctor, and after having been in hod for some days he was still fooling faint and nervous as a result of the trouble he had experienced.

To Mr Blonkhorn: The great tliIn?• witness's want-ed from the court was to know that his person was protected. He had to go past the flaxmill many times n week, and ho wanted to fool that ho was protooted rom such violence. There had boon intimations conveyed to him that thrco or four -others were I'goin? to deal it to him the same."

Mr BlenkhOrn asked for a lenient sentence mini hi? client, who already had bo-en wen days in prison— awaiting tral. He wns a foreigner. and he had not realised his duty to the law clearly as an Englishman might have done. Amongst a certain class of men there was an idea that anyone who helped 'tho police deserved opprobrium. Counsel, of course, did not for one moment support such a view, hut ho did pui it forward by way of explanation of his client's action. His action had been caused by drink—which was his failing—and he was willing to show his desire to do better by taking out a prohibition order against .himself.

Constable Bagrie mentioned that a-'wised, had .hcio offenecr. :!& preriwiis times. ~ ■ - 1 " . .. Mr j'.iclxm]-;, in conveying the decision of the '.'Oneh, said that this case W!!S one <.<? the aggravated assaults that could _3save occurred. Olson had had no ]st'brnr-ahion whatever. When ihe police called upon any cif i'/en to help them iij the execution of the]'.' diitv that citizen was bound io obey. The bench felt that was almost, -a pity that, the ease had not gono to the Supreme Court, where a- greater sentence could have 'neon imposed than that which tho bench, could inflict in term? of the sec! ion of the Justices of the Peace ct which accused was chared under. 01s.cn would receive 'he fnl! sentence of two months' imprisonment in Wellington gaol.