MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 26, 28 December 1932, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT. CONSTABLE’S PURSUIT OF ACCUSED MAN. John Dutton, a labourer aged 30, appeared before Messrs A. J. Graham and N. H Sinclair, Justices of the Peace, in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North, to-day, on a charge that on December 26 he did assault Michael Flannagan. Accused pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Michael h lannagan that he was in an hotel where accused was using filthy language « itness told him he should not speak like that and accused struck him, knocking him ’ out. He denied striking accused first, saying he had no chance to do so. Another witness, John Cochran, stated in evidence that when he entered the hotel accused started to abuse him and Flannagan remonstrated with accused, whereupon Flannagan was struck and knocked “stone cold,” not recovering his senses for ten minutes afterwards. Accused, who had had a few drinks, ran off. Constable Arnold stated that lie had been informed that a man “had been half-killed” by accused, whom he had seen walking down Main Street. \\ itness pursued him through several streets and then chased him across the railway yards, where he was dodging among the carriages and trucks. Accused disappeared, but was eventually caught in long grass in Church Street, saying “You win.” Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said accused had twice previously been fined for similar offences. “This seems to be becoming a habit with you,” said the Bench to accused, who was sentenced to 14 day's’ imprisonment.