Charge of Assault against a Constable.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 242, 23 September 1884, Page 2

Charge of Assault against a Constable.

[Own Correspondent.] Napier, September 23.

A serious case of assault, and somewhat peculiar in its circumstances, was partly heard yesterday at the R.M. Court here. The complainant was Edward Lofley, of Taupo, and the defendant Sergeant Thomas Cleary, of the Armed Constabulary, Tarawera. Complainants statement is that while staying at Brills’s public house, Tarawera, on the 26th August last, he was taken out by Constable Wilson, with whom he was acquainted, and they went to Wilson’s house. Lofley stopped talking to Wilson and his wife till a little after 9 p.m., and then left, Wilson going with him to the garden gate. Then Lofley states he was seized by four men, knocked down, and dragged two or three hundred yards away, where he was kicked about the head and body. The night was dark and he could not recognise the men, but heard one say “ Choke the b ; choke him,” and recognised the voice as Cleary’s, whom he knew very well. Lofley yelled once or twice, but was then throttled and could yell no longer. On being released Lofley at once jumped into the road and yelled, and so brought Brill, landlord of the hotel, to him. Brill found Lofley covered with blood, and injured about the head. Proceeding towards the hotel they passed Constable Wilson’s house, and saw Wilson and his wife standing at the door. Wilson said he had seen no one, but that his wife had heard screams. The defence was that Cleary was not on the spot at the time of the assault, as he was then taking a bath, and remained there from six till after nine o’clock. The case was adjourned for the production of a witness named Wear. |