FEILDING COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8777, 3 April 1907, Page 2

FEILDING COURT.

An Amusing Case.

Besides the usual ci-op bf drunks after a race meeting, yesterday at Feildiug a farmer appeared at the Police Court on the charge of resisting the police and his case created quite a tangle, which left the whole court in a flutter at the finish. It sesms that on Monday night at ten o’clock a drunken man lay in the gutter in front of an hotel. A policeman in plain clothes was directed by the sergeant, who was also present, to take charge of him. but on going forward to do so was interrupted by the aforesaid farmer, who had rushed out of the hotel and was now demanding fair play for the drunk, under the impression that some ouo was going to assault an acquaintance of liis own. Not desisting when warned to do so, he, too, was taken into custody and then he found, when too late, that he had been acting under a false impression. The charge entered against him, apparently' in error, was for “resisting” the police, but there was no evidence in support of such a charge. AA’heu that, fact was clear tho Bench was requested to amend tho information by inserting the word “obstructing” in place of “resisting,” in the charge, but the solicitor for the defendant, Mr Saudilauds, objected, contending that the charge having been duly made and replied to, could not bo amended. The Beuch accepted this view, hut nevertheless found the farmer guilty. Thereupon Mr Saudilauds told tho Bench, that after such a judgment, he would never plead again in that court before a Bench as they constituted. At Feildiug Court this morning E. Campbell, for having travelledfrom Palmerston to Foil ding without a ticket, was fined ss; a woman, who had been drunk in a public place was fined 5s or 34 hours; A. Pitcher for having boon drunk was convicted and discharged.