ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1930, Page 6

ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE

HAWKER FINED £5. L liy Tolegraph, Per Press Association. _ WELLINGTON, November 12. A warrant being ; out lor Victor David’s arrest on account of his failure to pay a. fine, Constable Grant spoke to him as he was driving through Courtenay Place yesterday. The subsequent happenings, which attracted a large crowd, were also responsible for the appearance of David, a hawker, aged 28, before Air E. Page, S.M., 'in the Alagistrate’s Court this morning, charged with assaulting Constable Grant while in tire execution of his duty.

Sub-Inspector Lopdell said that when the constable asked David to go to the police station, he refused, saying lie would pay the fine in the morning. The constable stepped on to the running board of the car. which was being driven by another man, and the accused tried to push him olf. There was some scuffling, lint the accused was eventually arrested and taken to the station.

David, in evidence, said that he had made arrangements with a detective that morning to pay the fine next day. He was willing to go to the station, but was not prepared to go light away with the constable, as lie wanted to drive the people he was with home. He considered the constable had exceeded his duty, and had made him feel very embarrassed in the presence of the crowd and a lady who was in the car.

“T entertain no doubt that he assaulted the constable,” said the ATagistrate. “T think the constable would have been wrong to be put off by accused’s explanation, and I think it was his duty under the circumstances to arrest David.”

Sub-Tnspeofcor Lopdell: We have had n considerable number of complaints about him for his pugnacious and fighting nature.

David was fined £.'>. in .default one month’s imprisonment. No time was allowed in which to find the money.