A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2403, 11 March 1922, Page 2

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

AGAINST A POLICE CONSTABLE | 5 Auckland, Mar. 9. Fielding Hargraves, a police constable, was committed for trial today on a private information, charging him with having unlawfully assaulting Gilbert John Johnston, so as to cause actual bodily harm. It is alleged that the offence was committed at the City Police Station on the evening of December 24th. The ease was started on Monday, when the informant stated that, having been arrested on a charge of drunkenness while in charge of a vehicle, trouble arose in the station enclosure over a tin. Hargraves, the constable on watchliouse duty, walked straight, up and struck him on the side of the face, breaking his jaw and knocking out a tooth, other evidence whs'given to the effect that, the informant had no injury on going to the station, buk. when-bailed out his face was swol-J len and marked. The defence was ' that informant was not struck, but. fell over in avoiding a grab by the accused, as he. : refused to obey orders. .(.‘.The informant ~ struck his hea’d on ; -the concrete', and his right ear hied a little: '‘Other policemen gave- evidence-filmt "the informant made c no Complaint Hint and showed ho .signs" of serious injury. In a report to his" officers, the - accused said the tooth displayed by the informant was old and dry.