A CABMAN IN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 26 October 1907, Page 2

A CABMAN IN TROUBLE.

Per Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. A cms of a somewhat unusual nature was before the Court today, when a licensed cabman was charged on three informations with unlawfully 'hindering a constable in the execution of his duty and misconducting himself in the practice of his calling by refusing to take passengers, and unlawfully encouraging a person in legal custody to resist the police. The hist and last informations were laid under the Police Offences Act, and the jp.cond under the city by-laws. It appeared from the evidence that on Wednesday evening a constable arrested a man for behaving in a disorderly manner, and put him in defendant's cub, which happened to be passing. Xhe cabman refused to take them to the police station, but said he would drive tlie prisoner to his lodgings. A large crowd collected, and a disorderly scene occurred before the prisoner could be put in another cab and removed, Wct'eudant pleaded that at the time he was going to pick up another fare by whom he had been previously engaged, and denied saying he would take the prisoner to his lodgings. Part of this evidence was corroborated by a man who said he had engaged Hefendant. The Magistrate, Mr Eyre-Kenny, said he believed the constable's evidence as to what defendant had said. In his opinion, defendant saw a chance of getting another fare, but on seeing his condition, refused to take him. As it appeared, however, that he had alreadybeen engaged, the second information must be dismissed. The remaining charge was withdrawn by the police.