CHARGE AGAINST CONSTABLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 203, 24 February 1912, Page 5

CHARGE AGAINST CONSTABLE

WOMAN BEATS POLICEMAN WITH. '1 HOCKEY STICK. -V By Telegraph—Press Association'. -I Westporl, Last Night. .- .£ At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Con- • stable Th 0«...• Keenan was oharged by -'\- Police Inspector Black with having as- '. / saulted Margaret Duncan, the wife of the- , l • licensee of the Victoria Hotel on February 1. .; The evidence'of the complainant went X to show that Bhe' was pestered by the constable, who invited her to meet Mm on the night ef February 1, and she accepted the invitation, with friends follow- .V ing a sh«rt distance behind. When the ■ l ;( constable, put his arm around her waist, - she produced a hockey stick she had con- ':■ cealed, and gave aim'a thrashing. 'J; The constable, it was stated, had ' ■-' offered £lO to keep the matter quiet, an* had given a man the £lO to give to „ ; . the complainant, but h* had cleared off with it. • • ;C At the conclusion of the evidence for * * the prosecution, counsel for accused sub- -'; mittcd that no offence was disclosed, as > ■-; ' complainant, in accepting the invitation, - .'*.- anticipating what would happen, and,.' .'. baiting the policeman, was really a con- " 6ienting party. " t \ The magistrate took this view.i com- - mented om the extraordinary conduct of ' /*; the woman, and dismissed th« lnforma- - 4 tion without calling on the defence. - - '-* ======= /