POLICEMAN IN THE DOCK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1922, Page 5

POLICEMAN IN THE DOCK.

CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. FOUND NOT GUILTY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A charge against the watchhousekeeper at the city police station (Constable Feilding liargreaves) of having assaulted and caused bodily harm to an arrested man was heard at the Supreme Court to-day. The informant stated that, having been arrested on a charge of drunkenness while in charge of a vehicle, trouble arose in the station enclosure over a tin, and Hargreaves walked straight up and struck complainant on the side of the face, breaking his jaw and knocking out a tooth. Other evidence was given to the effect that informant had no injury on going to the station, but when bailed out his face was swollen and marked. The defence was that the injury, a broken jaw, was not sustained at the station, and that accused touched complainant on the head, but the action could not be described as a blow. The Judge emphasised the importance of the case, which was one on which a verdict should not be found against accused except on most convincing evidence. Witnesses on each side testified to different sets of facts. It had to be remembered that the man had been arrested for drunkenness, and no doubt would be somewhat hazy in his mind as to what had taken place. The jury, after a short retirement, found accused not guilty.