SERIES OF CHARGES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10592, 26 March 1912, Page 6

SERIES OF CHARGES

AGAIWS7 A WASTE FtTOH MAN. At the S.M. Court in Masterton yesterday morning, before Messrs W. H. J'eodnun and Li. Erown, J.'sP., Christopher I'arr was charged with having, on Saturday night, used "insulting behaviour by persistently intercepting 01:0 Nathaniel .Miller, a Sergeant- c.i i'oiice, and did use tire following words: 'L'h, go home and get your stripes oil; you tried tlic .* gai'.ie too often before and ran second; and get away down the street,' with intent to provoke a breach of the peace in a public place, to wit. Queen Street." (2) that he did wilfulyy obstruct Sergeant Miller while in the execution of his duty; (:)) that he did wilfully resist Sergeant Miller :u the execution of his duty.

Mr M. Lavery appeared for accus - cd, and Sergeant Miller prosecuted. Accused pleaded not guilty. H was ■agreed to'take the charges together. ~The Sergeant stated that he was standing ;.v the corner of the Post Ofiieo about C.-lo o'clock on Saturday jiight. Accused came up to him and said, "What do you want?" Witness replied that lro did not want atiythiiio;. Accused said, "Oh, I thought you wanted a double on the Cup." Witness to/d accused to go array. He did this. .Accused again came up to 'him near Maltbv's and asked about "the double on the Cup." Later he again met accused near I'inhey's stable. Accused said. "Why don't you go away down tho street 'and mind your own business? You're not supposed to bo at this part of the town." Accused later came up to him and used the words in the'charge. Witness said that lie would arrest him if lie did xot go away, and put his hand upon Carr's shoulder. Accused then sat down in the roadway. Witness asked him to get up, and accused replied. "I'd .sooner die'than walk." The- Sergeant ■stated ..iat he had to get the assistance of Constable Fcrgusou. and then eventually took aci'cused to the cells, having to obtain a cab to do so, as the 'accused refused I to walk.

Cross examined by Mr Lavcry: He had watched accused because he bad suspected him of having liquor in a hag which ho-(accused) carried. Accused ca.me and stuck him up deliberately in the street, and followed him to wherjevev witness went. Accused Iliad come up to him and ordered him to "get down the -street and go about his ibusincss." Carr on a .previous oeJ cusion had abused him in a billiardroom. There, was no fooling between [ accused and-:- witness-. ■ James A. Himie,. confectioner,. ... of Master-ton, •stated -that he .saw accused follow the sergeant on two occasions. Withefes', gave, evidence -of -hearing accused -using ]au~ "guage. to Sergeant Millsr.' Can-- followed the Sergeant up the street. He had-not heard of there being, .any illfeeling, between Sergeant Miller and accused. Frank Thompson, groom employed at Pinhey'iS' .stable; gave ovideuco that •accused had followed Sergeant Miller on four occasions, using obscene laiv guage to hiim. . Con stable Ferguson gave evidence of Oarr having • resisted tJie Sergeant' and witness, and as to hi.s having used insulting language—in fact it was so bad .that witness had to request a lady who was near to go away. iWitness earlier in the evening had to warn accused in connection Avith remarks he passed to him.' Counsel for the defence contended that there was considerable feeling between the Sergeant and accused ,_ and ithat no man liked to be clogged about as had been the case with Oarr. The Bench stated that the' case had been proved. j The Sergeant pointed out that accused had been convicted of theft in Wellington las{ July, and ordered to come u.p for sentence when called upon. Mr La very stated that the accused had been in custody sinco Saturday alight. * The Ifencli inflicted a fine of £2, in default 14 days' imprisonment, with costs Bs, on the second charge, convicting and discharging accused on the other two.