MASTERTON POLICE COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8546, 2 October 1907, Page 7

MASTERTON POLICE COURT.

Messrs E. G. Eton and M. Gaselberg, J's.P., occupied the Bench at the Masterton Police Court, yesterday morning. A first offender was convicted and discharged on a charge of having been drunk. Stephen Valvless was charged on two informations with having assaulted two Chinese fruiterers Wah and Yee Chong on Monday Wvening. Accused pleaded iiot guiity; ; Sam Wah said that accused came into his shop on Monday evening and without any provocation or warning struck witness in the face. Upon witness remonstrating the accused picked up a 41b weight and threatened witness with it. Another man then t-ame into the shop, and pulled accused out. Yee Chong deposed that he was putting up the shutters at his shop when accused walked up and uttering an oath struck witness. Accused followed witness into the shop, but left when witness picked up a sticK with which to defend himself. j Constable Townsend said that while passing down Queen Street on Monday evening Sam Wah informed him that he had been assaulted. Witness went to the Queen's Hotel, where he had seen the accused, and a mate go, and arrested the accused. Both Chinese recognised the accused as the mar. who had assaulted them. Accused was under the influence of drink at the time." Accused denied having been drunk. He had not been in a Chinaman's shop during the evening. Thomas Ellers said that he was in accused's company on the night in question. They had some drinks together. On passing a Chinese fruit shop accused,went in. Witness did not see accused hit the Chinese, but he heard a scuffle, and saw a stick raised. Witness then pulled the accused out of the shop. The Bench faid they would take the lenient view that accused had nit , committed a wilful perjury because he wasfcintoxicated at the time of the offeree, and had no clear knowledge of what he did or said. He should consider himself fortunate that the offence had not been attended with serious consequences. A fine of £2, in default seven days' imprisonment was imposed on each information. Three bluejackets named Allen Wallace, Harold Conway and Harry Thomas Allport, from H.M.S. Challenger, appeared on various charges. The first two were charged with having used obscene language in Queen Street on Monday night about 11.30 o'clock, and the last-named with having been drunk and disorderly. All , three pleaded guilty, as they stated they wished to get back to their ship. Sergeant Miller stated that when , WftLlflfiS was arrested the other two mtirwbuld not go away from the ■ police station, asi they wished to be locked up with their mate. They were repeatedly turned away, and were even given permission to sleep in the watch-house. At last when they were turned into the street, and made use of obscene language, both he and Allport were placed in the cells. The Sergeant added that there were other members i of the crew, including an officer., in town on Monday night, but they had gone away by the early train on Tuesday morning to join their ship. The Bench said they would send the men back to the Challenger with a report of their conduct, and a re- j quest that they should be punished.