CHARGE OF AŚAULT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 216, 12 August 1937, Page 14

CHARGE OF AŚAULT.

INCIDENT IN WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Edward Samuel Bowden, aged 32, a motor driver, was charged to-day with assaulting Edwin William Stralfon and using indecent language. Straffon, a police sergeant, said that when he was in Abel Smith Street on the evening of August 7, on duty in plain clothes, he saw several men come along. They were intercepted by * tho son of the licensee of the Victoria Hotel. The men looked towards witness and tlion Bowden came up, seized him by the coat lapel and said that witness was one who had punched him in Wigan Street. Bowden used indecent language and said he would fight. Brennan then came over and apologised and tried to di ag Bowden away. Cross-examined, witness said lie was in plain clothes with the authority of his superiors. Ho would not say he was watching tho hotel. The men passed him and acousod came back, seized him first by the lapels and later by tho shoulders. He subsequently apologised. . Accused’s 6tory was that, following the Springboks match at Athletic Park, he had had 6ome drinks and was involved in a fight, receiving an eye injury. He saw Straffon at 9.45 and accused him of being ono who had hit him. Witness denied laying hands on Straffon.

Other witnesses supported the story of accused, but tho Magistrate said that the sergeant had given a clear account of the incidents. Fortunately for accused, it was more a technical assault than anything else, otherwise ho would have gone to gaol without tho option. A fine of 10s was imposed, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. John Brennan, aged 36, a labourer, who' like Bowden, spent the night in the lock-up, was charged with obstructing Straffon in the execution of his duty. Both the Magistrate and SubInspector Dempsey asked him if he did not try to restrain Bowden, to which Brennan said “No.” Subsequently, the Magistrate said: “Don’t you see that we are trying to get you out of a hole?” He dismissed the charge.