50 years ago LATE NIGHT PARTY WINDS UP IN COURT
A Warragul man has been gaoled and another fined on convictions ranging from assault with a weapon to indecent language following a late-night party in Warragul.
The two men, one from Warragul and the other from Drouin, appeared in Warragul Court last Friday, each charged on four counts arising from an incident last Wednesday.
The first man pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a weapon and hindering police, and guilty to resisting arrest and indecent language.
The second man pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and assault by kicking, and guilty to charges resisting arrest and indecent language.
The charges were heard before Mr AG Foley SM and J’s P Mr CR Lawson and Mr B Johnson.
Constable G Hobley, of Warragul, said in evidence he had gone to a home in Burton Street at about 10.30pm on May 30 after having received complaints from neighbours.
He said that when he arrived at the house, in company with Senior Constables S. Whelan and M. Brown, a party was in progress and he could hear indecent expressions
He said that after telling the occupants that complaints had been received he asked them to “keep the noise and language down”.
The police then walked toward the gate, he said, but the man came to the door and used an indecent expression in front of about 20 men, women and children gathered on the street.
Constable Hobley said he had gone up to the man to arrest him for indecent language when the man struck him in the face and kicked him in the shin.
He said he had only been able to subdue the man and place him in the divisional van with the help of the other two police officers.
Senior constable Whelan said in evidence he had been helping place the man in the police van when the other man picked up a large piece of wood from the nature strip.
Senior constable Whelan said the other man swung the piece of wood around, threatening police and onlookers.
He said some people from the house took the wood from the man, who then used an indecent expression and rant into the house.
Police later found him waiting in a bedroom.
The Court was told the first man had been in steady employment for more than two years.
At the time of the offences, the first man had been receiving sickness benefits as a result of having contracted scabies.
This man was sentenced to three month’s gaol for assault with a weapon, and one month’s gaol for hindering police.
For indecent language, he was fined $30 in default three days’ gaol.
He was allowed four weeks to pay.
The charge of resisting arrest was withdrawn.
The second man was fined $50 or five days’ gaol for assault by kicking; $30 or three days’ gaol for indecent language, and $20 or two days for resisting arrest.
ACCIDENT VICTIM RECOVERING
A Drouin woman is recovering in the West Gippsland Hospital after having been struck by a car in Main St, Drouin last Saturday night.
The accident happened at about 11.30 pm. Police gave the woman’s name as Mrs Rose Clark, of Tynong.
Mrs Clark was taken by ambulance to West Gippsland with a suspected broken leg.
Senior Constable M Anderson, of Drouin, attended.