Slash at Constable

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 635, 11 April 1929, Page 1

Slash at Constable

DRINK-MADDENED IRISHMAN

Counsel’s Plea for Leniency

UNBALANCED as the result beyond endurance by accusations made by a neighbour against his child. James Loft us slashed at a. constable with a table knife last Friday. Then he used lurid language to relieve his feelings. During the ease, Mr J. J. {Sullivan, who appeared for accused made an impassioned appeal for sobriety among Irishmen.

a fireman, S 3, and a native of Ireland, appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning to answer charges of assaulting Constable Goebel, and of using obscene language in Karaka Street. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said last Friday accused was under the influence of liquor when a constable went to his house as the result of a complaint. Accused came out and objected to the constable speaking to his wife instead of himself. “He grabbed the constable by the back of the hand and called him foul names,” said the sub-inspector. “The constable, who was in uniform, was standing on the step and accused stepped forward and slashed at him with a table knife. The constable tried to get him, but Loftus retreated to a room and locked himself in. He kept yelling about the things he would do. He is a seaman and has been convicted before.” CURSE OF MY RACE Mr. J. J. Sullivan said there was no doubt Loftus was well “under the influence.” The trouble had arisen be-

cause i\ neighbour had taken a constable along to Loftus’s house to complain of Loftus’s child assaulting her;*. Mrs. the neighbour, and the constable were talking outside when Loftus. who was sleeping off a spree in another room, came out. Ho objected strenuously to the trouble and in a temper struck at the constable. Loftus was a hard-working man with a family of five, and he was willing to take out a prohibition order against himself. Mr. Hunt: Will he? In that case 1 11 let him off lightly. “Liquor is the curse of my own race,” said Mr. J. J. Sullivan, in an impassioned speech to the Bench. “Very few of my unfortunate countrymen would ever appear in court were, it not for the liquor. That is the trouble with Loftus.” Mr. Hunt: Yes. You’re right. However, Loftus has been convicted live times before. Still. I will take into consideration the fact that he was drunk and that he has a large family. He is fined 40s or seven days on the charge of assault and convicted and discharged on the second count.