Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Thursday 22 July 1897, page 5


MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS IN HANNAN. STREET. Thomas Grotty was arraigned on two charges, (1) of falsely representing himself to be a constable, and (2) of assaulting James Bullen. He pleaded not guilty. The charges were taken conjointly. Joseph Morris deposed that he resided in Hannan-street. On Wednesday night he was with Bullen at the lower end of Hannan street at half-past 11 o'clock. Accused came up, called them "'a pair of bludgers," and said he would arrest them. Witness denied the accusation, whereupon accused assaulted Bullen. Grotty, who appeared to be under the influence of liquor, claimed that he was a policeman. Detective Sutherland came along, and witness gave Grotty in charge. Bullen corroborated. Detective Suther-land gave evidence of the arrest. For the defence William Davis deposed that Morris offered him £1 to fight accused. There had been a scramble in the middle of the road between Grotty and Bullen. Wit-ness told Morris that if he had got into a row he must get out of it the best way he could. He did not hear accused say anything about being a policeman, neither did he hear him use the word " bludgers." James McDonald deposed that Bullen challenged accused three times to fight, saying, " [ will not allow any man to call me that." Accused: "I did fight him, and beat him, and all his mates then got up on top of me then." McDonald further stated that when he was trying to separate accused and Bullen he was himself knocked down. Accused did not give evidence on his own behalf, but made a statement, which was to the effect that accused struck him first. There were, he said, four or five altogether in Bullen's party. A free fight ensued, Bullen had challenged witness to fight, and he said, " If you want it badly, I will fight." When Bullen was getting the worst of it all his mates rushed in and got on top of him (accused). A third charge was preferred against the accused of disorderly conduct in the lock-up. Constable Robinson deposed that accused was very violent and filthy in his language, which could be heard by anyone passing in the street. Grotty was sober enough to know what he was doing. The accused stated that the police flung him into the cell. One jumped on top of him and another held him by the throat. He had to say some-thing. Constable Robinson, " It is all a yarn of his own, your Worship." Accused : " If a man is not guilty, he has got to be made guilty of something." The R.M. disbelieved Grotty's statements, and fined him 20s, or seven days, for repre-senting himself to be a constable; 20s, or 14 days for the assault; and 40s, or one month's seclusion from the turmoil of a busy world for the disorderly conduct in the lock-up.