WITH IRON BAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18899, 14 January 1927, Page 14

WITH IRON BAR.

BAILIFF ASSAULTED. WHEN SERVING SUMMONS. [THE PBESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, January 13. "If you come up before me again for assault I will send you to gaol without the option fine," Mr P. K. Hunt, S.M., told Daniel McCurdy (56), who was charged in the Police Court to-day with attempting to commit suicide, and also with having assaulted Lawrence Hilton Crawford. Crawford stated that about G p.m. on January 4th he went to McCurdy's place to serve a summons upon him for wages, which he alleged wero due for work dono for accused in October last. McCurdy said that he would not pay, and made use of obscene language. McCurdy grabbed a bar of iron a little over two feet. in length with a, hook on one end of it, and held it over his head. Accused then struck' witness ouo blow,' wTi&n ho ran-away. McCurdy followed him, and lifted the bar of iron, which fell on witness's coat, tearing a piece-out of it. Witness said ho h-d not given-accused any provocation ■■ ■'''.'"' Mr Hunt: Did you knock'when you went to McCurdy's place, to serve the summons?, . , Witness: No; there is no need to knock; it is only a fowlhouse he lives in. • »:• : . T. '■ Dr. M. B. Gunn, " who was called to, attend accused, who had a wound on hia right temple, said that McCurdy was in a state of great mental excitement, but- was pacified a little. _ He picke-. up a sharp knife, but; gave it up without any trouble. After administering something' to keep accused quiet, witness communicated.' with the police, as he was informed that McCurdy had struck himself with a saucepan. Counsel for accused: I will admit an iron,bar was used, but only in selfdefence. Mr Hunt: An irou bar should.only bo used when a man has got his back to the wall. Accused • then gave evidence. Ho denied owing Crawford money. When ordered off his place, Crawford said, "I'll get a piece of you. I'll lay you up in hospital." Mr Hunt: What did you hit. yourself on the- head with a saucepan for?—l don't know., Senior-Sergeant Edwards: Your temper often gets the better of you?—Oh, no. What about the' police taking a gun from you at Papakura?—The policeJiad no excuse for doing that. A neighbour's dog was worrying my cows, and I was milking at the time. Well, what about striking a man with an axe a few months ago?— That was a frame up. Mr Hunt: Oh, is this tho man who tried to knock a perfectly innocent carrier with an axe? Now I remember him. "It is a great mistake for a man to act as his own bailiff, < it of ten causes trouble," said the Magistrate. "Still, McCurdy had no right at all to use _ a piece of iron. I'm going to convict him: He. seems to have an'ungovernable temper. .He is fined £lO and costs or one month's imprisonment. It lie comes up again for the same thing 1 will send him to gaol without the option of a- fine."