FIGHT BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1947, Page 6

FIGHT BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 10. A pokcr, a claw hammer and a stick featured largely in what was described by the police as "a very willing fight ' ' in whicli two rnen and their wives were involved at Okato on March 20. Arthnr Erancis Simons and James Robert Crawford both pleaded not guilty to charges of assault in the New Plymonth court yesterday. The c'ase was adjourned by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., on the assurance that there would not be any further trouble. Both men charged lived at Okato, said Senior Sergeant W. J.. K. Brown. Simons owned a farm on which Crawforu was the sliaremilker. An electric pressure pump which supplied water for both the Simons ' and Crawford's houses appeared to be the main cause of the trouble between the two families. Crawford's house was higher .than the Simons ' and when the latter had their taps on the* Crawfords could obtain no water, On the morning of March 20 Mr. and Mrs. Simons were out and the Crawfords alleged that they could hear water running in the house and saw water running from the waste pipes into the sump. Mrs. Crawford rang the Health Department and then the police. The trouble occurred when the Simons returned. "What appears to ho.ve been a pretty willing fight took piaee," said Sergeant Brown. "A disturbing feature was that the wives of both men became involved." The Crawfords were leaving the farm. Botlqparties had been told that they could not indulge in these disputes and since March 20 both appeared to have respected one another fairly welL '