ASSAULT AT WAIKINO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5007, 30 July 1926, Page 2

ASSAULT AT WAIKINO.

OFFENDERS BEFORE THE COURT.

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED.

“This is the first case of the kind in the district since licenses were restored, Waikino is isolated .and without police protection, and conduct such as this cannot be tolerated,” said Mr James, Murray, J.P., in convicting and imposing substantial fines on three young men at the Waihi Police Court on Wednesday. Mr W. E, Busch was also on the Bench and concurred entirely with his colleague. The offenders were John Southberg, Eric Percival Cox. (on remand), and Williiam Southberg, and all three pleaded guilty to charges of having assaulted the licensee of the Waikino Hotel, Mr W. J. Selwcod, and using obscene language on . Saturday night last, THE DISTURBANCE. Senior-Sergeant Mac Lean prosecuted, and the evidence went to show that the three young men had visited the hotel during Saturday afternoon .and been served with drinks. After the closing hour they returned and sought to be supplied with more liquor, the request being refused. They then asked the licensee to give them beds for the night—-presumably under the., impression that if these were given them they would be 'entitled as boarders, to obtain liquor— x and again met with refusal. Nonplussed, they left the premises and visited the picture entertainment, but when this was over they made their way back to the hotel, and taking a ddor each commenced knocking and kicking ei|hd calling upon S'elwood to come down and open. up. For some time the licensee took no notice of the disturbance or the obscene language directed at himself, but finally thinking it posible that there might also be a legitimate boarder or visitbl seeking admission he went down and opened one of the doors. THE ASSAULT. No sooner had he done this than he was set upon by the accused and man-handled to such an extent that a doctor had to be called in to attend to his injuries, which would probably have been more serious but for the fact that a couple of Ideal residents ea,me to his assistance during the assault. -

On both charges fines of £5 were imposed, and these, with £1 10s 6d for witnesses’ expenses and medicaj fees, and 7s Court costs, brought the total to £ll 17s 6d to each offender. The alternative to payment was fixed at one month’s imprisonment.