RUGBY OR WHAT?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 916, 8 September 1910, Page 4

RUGBY OR WHAT?

IWILSON IN COURT. b". — :

)e story of a brokfn jaw. 1 v

y. Colin umusy allxtci'o W303! 'yesterday i mbi'iiBvheny.; asfthb; outcpVp! of*, a Rugby' btebet\yMh:it.Ke:;Atiiletic ,and Potieke. pift'jbptpail''''::^ iedtArthur^ letter jm'JUM^BlackV'lw^s" gedfe.witiii:":;assaultirigy.'a ■:':'• Pqneke, ii^sion^'Mim;;-'^ jWg ; ;M; Ha selden£S JM.^; occupied, ib^jhspep'tpV;^^^^^ fiijaMonijwasl laid\under'i 204 ■■ oivj'beTidlf ■;':s (..the : &iijyi&&£xvP>' fp2 jlJmM^alcinaii;.de- v dSm'l=ans\verrto.;tno':.;s.ub-inspector, : Constable/Str^^ oHi-i. ms.questio^ ajn'sVtirp't'fior^ £K^;!ib'iaVa^.'ofpltoe^ca^^ Mi l , pi esQ'My -'Jnccu^riiim'VpJt^strikr'' 'ahoMQr^player^fwhbs^^^^ igiCwas^acdOTald.OT is^;;tfeti;:;;i ;^ &13; at qr jvMe.incipWi^ jvi^griot,^ fejHe^Eo^vcr^wara^f'.off^bc'' £S| Soma■' time ■ i lai&rf ih^he'vgaino' y'asi;struct on^esjawi;from 7bbhihd;i b^'ifyrfe'ca^bt^ iH^^sii^ered^and; ; ?aM ! ine:n'!.yrftik^ er|pr^; ; E|H^oii'sJca^e;; 'fbtjX-peiipd; puis yeeksyand^. : iffirep;idays;s :^se[jy'as? . £te&atisypn' &} rdu^^sKetblirplany: positron/; bnythe^ lp : /H™kvp]aco,';/andi;tlie;r^ : irt?ffie*half;wa^^Hife;-:'pir' ;^o-lnbrth , £abut vhey was -■' not; '■ ;certaui : }:whpther ! :pcMirTehcp*:tbok^^ .;';side; ! . ' lAVilso'nTwhb bad strike} ;"b^fpre:he'.vr^ \ 's|;playiiigX Siinj.) Me" ; ; $but ■ 'iSimvbrjMe- \ V s >i.a. i-to ptiiisel:asked' thatMb\biihbr twbyWil-f' . at-Jtlie^timb^ '-^f-ZMS-v'fefeerard,; 'Sutherland,; ■■ r^hy^'a^ lij^swe-ar^hafethe^ layer?'natned/'Mac'dpnald Jin,,the;facb bbratblyjf?-;andS ; ; • tt«ed|;^j^;';:f^ Wa3'XnM.*'&;v';t s:j&^ |idtGb3in6i^ : :(captaih'Si;pfJi:Ponekb) ltj.b'ufr accused's^ fchp'-refere^ 'firrHlSot ; tbat;;E -.know : -pf !"^VvitfAv? |id!;;ybu^point : ■ ; fcdidrpbi'nt;but iyqttf, Mfiunifi;', artbri'ybu -Vyr'ani!:,: strubk'vby Ppdy P^<Yes^ ; £ r*iiK ,;•* ??',* i; m ; feißan/,"abt«allyJstnkSiypuy^but; : bnly; . pre^here/'anyyotberjb'playbrs'Ke S . . . K\yisßbri{rwefeVa^'*tbb>itime\ ; ybu:S'ere tetbeii.fspbcfcators;aiidi ; fbur;'pufc of;Jthe, ItfibaKyoii • :wben;Hypu v p|ou!; still?. pprsist.-ir(iyburi (Statement ?; tbe; ' j)i ■? because, Questions, Cc'iaife o^formed,\ : :;b^*coWd,^nbt : ;.say;;.if ; ;it' Sry-jgooi! memory; a£any^Hme. ;iv ; i'^erX.-lfc^th^ any v he S?.attendi)ig \i? tb/ianbtKercipaiient:-'at; iii ;tfib'slower'•:; jaw l E Jiad;"; bepn' vbrokbii hbandagedj tbiiTibg >the. jaw ! 'y(ii ed;.'together,yand; io)v^fafte'him.':S'On : fejKhe tKp:/ jaw;: K"middle;'|line right; side. ~sticlr-; ends \ were, red.'jiiogethen' /ItVwas';fba]]y , .a'(lbuble, ! |S'Si-';*V'-sh'a;pedj^^ractiire.v,:but-there' sljreally;ibnly;:bne;jbrbalc/irivtne;bbnb,f JsS^rotid.?-gland ; [gbaJV'aiid,^swellipg'jafterwards set: in, |wbuldSsay,/JaS;;a; : resultVbf.the blbw.j|cbusidered 'ihatvthe; jaw'jhad; mend|'p^feotly,'tand.: thaty Galcinai.'would yej,thb: use' te'yHe!'didipt'tnmk;thbre'wbuld : be' m penharierit' .Bijufy/v-; ; v, :i - ':■■',■•_ ;' ; "', : ■-':':'":' ; . te;KwHat'tha^ull-back<Sato.v phas:;HSlater,V.Wabksmith, employed, |-Pefeno'yVbrkshpps^v:and: a' member [)thev'Pbneke^teamj;i,was':vcalled; next. B"/stated: ithat,: progress .of i e':)game,i v hb .saw'-'Ww .jWilsbn:' ; . partly irmed/:;;,\'AnV:Athletic -rush blbse te mekb's*^gpal-pbsi;s'. i fbll t OAyed ) ;: arid .the jls,came : )irito' ..Calcihai's:.hands, .'and f.'^as'collafed ; .arid..thfbwhi'by anbther aybr;; r ':.As'Cakmai;was ;thrown back-: irds'i'his .'arm'; struck'.' AV.;. : Wilson", bn. ' Just then the' jistle;Wentjfor''an;iu.fTingement of the saw.lthat AT. Wilson fe'steggering/X;':j"W;itriess' caught him, id,'laid ; him .xlown-./ :;As^ : he, : did> so rthurj:.Wilson .came, along and .said: Show, mp the cow;.'that .done: : it, and tii .sniash' him.".-;-• : ; Witness" • replied:; What.rot!;lt,was.as much the man's was .ours.".";- Accused lei'fweiit to :speak' to. a couple;of his ii''ii■•:■playe,rSj;^arar/ l 'SyhicK' l i> .to-;where..Calcinai;,was,'.and aimed' a ;bw;.which^Calcinai : ayoided;-.Thc game ibni'i'v- proceeded:.' for-v': ; some >:. twenty jinutes,•;•' ..wli'eh'. witness.; ■ saw •;; accused pike ;'frbni .'the/ side. :■ ,- |'Iylr.-- ; 'Wilford: ..You" were playing full-; foi; Ppneke ?—"Jns." ■

'/;..So/that ■"•virtually you were a.specta- : '■.Wγ, for : thut-is the position of it , fullback during tho greater part of a gamo? (Laughter.)—"l was playing full-back. //In ans« t .er.;to.fur.th«r;qno^tions ls,.wit- ! ness; stated that Calciiiaiwas a 'very, fast forward,. but he, had never hoard, him : ciilled; '.'bfl-side." He : (witness) had.no doubtabout the .accused, assaulting Cnleinai..-:,, "/ : --- -'■/ ,-.■;;.,,'..'',,'i>V. ' At- this stage counsel' had the .other ■two Wilson'brothers—Sim/and /W./'Wilson—brought .into, court, and -ranged alongside the, .accused, '.to demonstrate .the'.difference /'iii their stature's.'" They are'. all : coloured hieii, and' bear ay close facial .rese'mblance ..to each "other. 'After the other brothers had retireel and tho accused (Arthur) had 'returned-to. his his Worship jocularly expressed some doubt as. to r ! whether they.Had,-the,"right AyilsqriV in; custody/ Thoy'acciised reassured him:'' . '.':' .." J: -Witness, (Slater), in the : course .of f ur-thery'cross-examination; indicated-on a' Vrb'ugh pl.an ; ,'of-..the 'football r "' ground."tlip positions■"!of the/diiferent/players/;'Ho did-not;agree .with '.Oaloinai's/recollec-' tiori . on 'this;' poiiit, .'■■:;' y ■;': ';./':// ■=■: ;^! ;y, A Well-known W itriess i;V. y 'r was" the' next \yit-< ~nessr called'.on behalfviofiithe .prosecution. Ho. stated that he had-.acted; as -assistant to'the referee, and .was time-; 'keener;at; the match' in/question,;., as swell:'a's/.at. the/Oriental": v. -St.-/ James. J match.•/■ At. one.. stago, of • the game.' he -sawCalcinaiaudW'.' Wilson.have hold. :of each I( pther.■■:./A :freeikick,yhad...been " awarded-Lto::the -Poiieko' ,, team by the. . refereoV .'■ and '■' W. Wilson, went. to'. take ,the.ball.y.As he was. in the act of dping so ..Calcinai 1 charged into him. -Wil;son" knocked' the -ball-on, and the 're-, ■feree; blew-'his'-.whistle to. give -a scrum. ■ When play'temporarily stopped-' he rio-'.ticed-'vW.-: .Wilson and 'Calciuai holding' ie'aclp other' by the }i preanns! ;. The Tβ' ;feree'. wsts /'pointing ;:out .the. ;.'; place for .scrumming, and the majority of the forwards, werespractically towards the. con-.tre.-'of •.'•■the 'field '•from Vhim..•;/ At '.that, stage; Arthur Wilson .went/towardsyCnl-. cinai' and' deliberately • struck him.-Wit-, :ness'-saw Galcinai holding .his.-face■ arid ibeirig- escorted- off the field.... .Witness had-not noticed any;provocation for.the; assault; : :/y/-•;;./// ','.'.: ;l.< v-S; ':'■.. /- / ■ •//Cross-examined:; He ..had"no interest •.in'; the. prosecution, and 'hadnot. given, ,'evidence> v ,to' the,; Rugby ~TJnipn, ; about; ythe'.c'ase.- :.- •!,:.-,-' ■ :■■;,v.-:, r ■'.-. :■.".■'.■;•;,■'■'■'.-;'.v--;:SDidiy<)us:t€l l :;Mr: SPerry ■ gibbon's /partner) .thai/ you .didynot see ; the-blow; struck,-but; saw-Calcinai : after' ;,he^vas;.struck:?—"Not. in; those words.' ;Canvl.;say ;'what" I, didisay.?" J; : :- -,:, ; did:. -say .J.was. tthat;l;-had/a;-d6.ubt -inmy.ymind, at' the/ .timeHas-.to-who struck';-the'• .blow—. !whether/it;-..was' ; Wy ; : Wilsdn.-'of .'A;-.-:Wil-; s6nTrbut--'tKat .when f -I ; noticed ;W/.;,Wil:spn>: arid.-;. Calcinai:. having-, hold -of , each .otherii; it--could not:have beeri/him. , ,'/" : ' r Then yiuicanndt; swear-it; was Arthur Wilson;: who 'struck;y<Calcihai;-- except that/you!.; afterwards discovered' it. 'was/ PW./Wflsqn/'whoyVas holding : Calcinai? Wilson-.at firsts : ;Bttttitl)eyv,were. .still .holding. on: to., each. ;otheri"/> ■/:;■//■ '■ /,///./ ; :'/- ; \ " : '/!// : :-^; ; -: ;'SThe;^magistrate: yl , : understand:" you i.to'f .Wilson/and/Calcinai; :were.iiri;grips'j:,and 'Arthur/ , Wilson came. : fpnvardy and./ struck. ; hiniT-rp'Yes,'that is/whatr-took-place."- ■.-";'■:! ;•;•■' :■■ v ! ! 'y Mr: : . Wilford i i Youhad. a ' doubt-then,.. : : but : :now';ydii:'aro 'sure?—"l. , .was ■ sure', .;:;;.:: ;::.;^ ?;U;: The 'Morning Sitting ";;;, :;;^ames"Tiiyard,^warehbuseman, ; i.ingv:at- Ealrn i: me^ber;-'of- v the;Ponekevteami said;iii;' .reply-',to JSuli-Inspeptor , ■'•Nbryrood,,.; that ,he^saw>^:-;W;ils6tf; ; ;hurt>:and' oh! the'■gtoundi'at' one.:part"'pf : '-the- -ffle" ■sawVArthur;/Wilson:' while . : t-he.;]att«r (threatened"to:hittCalcinai 'again : if he. -did .not-; leavei, his brother .alone.. -'."•He ■did' riot -see -a,ny ■:; ' ~ v{At this-;stago ,'(l;;:p.m;)^the, ;i Court ,adjpurned . for. luncheon,; resuming »«> ;C J:\ • ; -: ■ J ;rKp'Mf..r;Ai : ->-Wiren; ,:V; : ;"■;; ■i :i,"WirenV■; 'accoiiri-. ' tahtAfo 'Messrs. Chapmari,' : '■ Slterrett,? AVylie- and : : : Tripp,'-'deposed'-!. tc- ;( haying ; been-'a'spect-atorat the,matclr'in'tjues-■;tjon..'.:,:'.;;D.uring-V.; the;,; progress -I; of r the; ■ niateiv-i -W. iviWilson; ■■ .Calciriais;-; ap 7 . ■pe'ared to be' : talking : toekch;pther, ; after; •.the.^other.ipliiyors' had: goge 'after...the tp : 'CalciriaiVand! Witness: ;was-; sitting/.'right' .in ..'line;'; j; .the. ■;p]ayMS/:';and^he^heMd^-.'|ie; i b.lpwV t -/-"'He 'did not -:,;., ,''; In cross^exsmina, tion, : witness; didi.not ■\ag^ee.'.V ; with;';\Calcinai,s.;.'.!yerß'i6n;;,<!f:y ! the! • point -'on: the, grpurid;. at" whichv; the ■. as;sault took place, or as;;to the rrianner :-in'■-.which ;V the'-blow wasVdeliy'ered. .■ ■Hβ. ,th<yught -; W.-. Wilson; had'' holds.. with (Cal-cinaj^-but.;that ; : their->-;handaV|iad ''di!opped^V'.-;'.^",- : .' : '-'-.''-'' : ...v ! - , - ; ''i"::•:[■:'■ : Positives evidence ■ of :tlie : ' assault; was "also giyeri' by/: : Montrose ; ,'• Mitchinson, 'pa'inter and' : paperhang'er, ; 126 Riddiford Streoti f .James']jewdallMagee;Ttereph'one ; liries'man;';-;49, : Rplleston;.' .Street,-,;,-3ohn" ■-Stepheii-/Grijlig'an,'-. telephone linesman; ;.il6^t'Hans9n}..'Str^t^'Ponal[,a.- : ;M'lnityre i .. in "the defence, stores, residing. at':Adelaide^;Road,:lslsiiid;'Bay,J,:Thfese i iwitries'ses , 'evid(>nce,-' while> ■ppiicurririg'is' to-■■the.'assault,-;; differed'.iii';■'respeofc ; to' ■ the. 'position sac'eupied.by;:.t|ie;.pUrnesat. ; tlie;'time,.;and- other circumstance^'•;. atf.' .tending the,occurrence.•.■ W-.;T.- ;l Ypungj"; secretary, to;the. Seaman's";JJpipn,-.'.was v ■called 1 ; asi.a/witness, ■ biit ; did not'.answer;; i)-; Sub-Irispectpr Nbi'iyppd'intimatedjthat. ;this.closed tiler police- casei ■ ;■.' :.: : -; ; . •Jj^^nyyJHE ';DEFENCEv : ;': ; ;;y '.'.;■-; W; 'ARRAT; -OF:'/WITNESSES.''; ;\ f;, J ;ikccused ; ; on' beirig-'forinally. arraigned, : -iritimated that Tie proposed. to/give'eviT;.derice'.:V';'--.;';':."•;■■,:■.'•..■''■• ■■.v'-.:':;'-'-'; : ..- ~ -: ' i: ; v-";'!"'-.-.r'.;v-iKj;Jrtr; iKj;Jrtr; Willordj.'in , outlining ,the 'defence )which:"'iio;proposed; f<)'set;'up;''observed '/that■'by' l the- sectioti under whieli; i'his :ciieiit^wa's/' chargedVhe : ;-iwas." liable.-' to ;tiiree but , 'Section /207. "of 'i'iie-'; same required that .the j'A'cty-should: be'j.intentidnal..:He;Alybu'ld '.show'-. that '."if -there 'was -'an', intention ;in 'this'■-casfe,- it Vas 'not in 'the account:';. ;If '.Calcihai{Svas" struck :it was' hot 'by 'the accused.. .-The wrong .man had. been charged with this assault.. It would be ■'• .shown': that' someone /other;,than'/the;' : a'ceused might have had reason i* strike Calcinai, ■', (that .the; latter 'had;', played .his 'Usual''rdugh/: loose;' game Vand-' assaulted' .'two;; pthers-p-Macdonald'; and- W. 'Wilson—during its'progress..' Hβ had eighteen; witnesses-presentj /.and .if necessary,; he'.c'o.uld.' get another -ten'.-. ' ' //The magistrate/did i> not think lie'would be entitled tp dismiss ; tlits inform' ations. in -the case, of ■ an .indictable ■ offence' in /which a-doubt existed.; ; r -//■; ':';*'■ .• y ' / /'■. Mr.;. Wilford: If. tliere is'aprepondervance." 'of' evidence to' show'.that ;lfe did' inpt strike the .blow, 'you can do. so.' .;/ The magistrate: If it' is' a" preponder- ■■■-"■' -" iv '' •'.':;/•■■' ■'•. : '- v -' • ;.i Mr. .'Wilford: I can/carry it'on-until' '■.'to-mprrow; afternoon, and I- think: you will' : feel: with- me; that /you -have no dt-hervoption/- .If- a magistrate:thinks that -no - jury 'could; convict;; he should dismiss ) the informatipns;.; I :: have it '/on i'tlieVauthority of your .Worship's own book;■■■•'.-.'•.' /',: ■.-.■'.:'■■•■. .. '".-' '- - .■ . :;-; The magistrato': That; is- perfectly sound, but-I do .not; want to strut in a giant's:,robe.' : :It is not/original to. me ltor .was it to. Mr. Justice Johnston who '■ first ■ wrote.-; it. ' - The.; magistrate should be perfectly satisfied that there was no chance of a jury ..convicting. If he-is convinced that no jury ought to convict—taking '.the evidence - on. "both sidestinto account—then'he : should not ;send a; case for trial.;' ; ..'.s'. 4 v 'Harold Gerard was' the first witness ;qHledv'fpr/v"th'e-'defenco;--...'Hc;',"testified thai he , was present.-at the match in question, and-saw:Calcinai; strike Macdpnald with his fist in the face, just as the' latter; had kicked the.. ;ball : '- with liis left foot. That was 'donp v absphite]y. without, piovocatioit. /' / "''.

; Cross-examined: It was-a deliberate assault,, which-gave rise-;to remarks all round ill tho grandstand.'-■ ;" More. Defence: Mr. V. R. Meredith ..'■■-. and Others. / Vincent Meredith, solicitor,, ..Welling-.-' ■ton, dciwsed' that ho had .been, selector of .-Wellington representative teams for, three years, and was for Now. Zealand this.year. .He,had also been manager' of the team which toured Australia, and of which the accused was a member. .. Witness had never/seen Wilson ■ do, anything that was'.riot, fair and above board. He had always been known as a particularly ..clean and ;even-tem-pered player. . ;'.■■':■:'■ :'..-•• " ■ ; . .. John Murphy, drain-pipe .maker, .Wellington,'also testified to the assault,on Macdonald by Oalcinai,, who.gave.him a smack on the noso provoca-' tioir. Witness passed a remark to Qalcinai. a-tr-the time that there .was no occasion for that. '. Macdonald's face was bleeding. ; ■ •'-',: .■ ;; Corroborative evideiicoy was' given by Rol»rt Irvine,, labourer','/Wellington (who was. playing for Athletic; iu the match),";and -Lewis Foster/Mac.donald, member of: Athletic team (the player alleged to' have, been assaulted);- ; Win. Perry, solicitor, (who described the' accused as the' cleanest fprwafdin AVellirigton), depose'd-';to J 'yii.' - tipn lie had .with {the! witness/M'Kenzio (examined for tho •■prosecution) on the Monday following! ■ M'Kenzie. told him' he\had seen tliD..whole thing, that'the. two Wilsons and,Calcinai were standing away from , the scrum, .and while, his, attention-was directed to another.part■ of-.-'ithe , gamo hp -heard ja' blow struck.. M'Kerizie said to him that he did not see the blow struck,'but from'the position of the .players.-he thought- it was. given', by "Rangi' , (Arthur) Wilson. ;. Benjamin Sutherland, - clerk in the .New-'Zealari'd Railway Office, testified.to having witnessed the ma-tdh' in /question,- arid to having' seen; Calcinai de-' iibera;tely'' hit-AVv,Wilson on. the. face andiknockhim dowrii' oil the west.end , of. the ground.- There did not- appear to ;be- an'vthing : .accideiital. about it. Witness saw the blow which caused Cal-•ciriaiy-.to, leave the field subsequently,, and /it. was W. /Wilson,/ not the ; acqiisecl, '.who. ■"knocked him out." / ' ; ."'.'.".. yylFollowing-a remark from/the Bench.as td ; tho. effect, of /some ofthis eyidenco, in-the.event of : proceedings, being in-, stituted againsty W;i Wilson, 'Mr..-.-..Wil-.. ford■ said , "in such.a case/ lie /would call 'all the witnesses.examined by the Crown that day.-.'; (•:,,- .;;. • -..'.:■•",.'„■■.' -■ '.On/, counsel's ■■ .further;, hearing, was-.;.;adjourned ,, until .11 ■• o'clock-this , morning..; '..;.. ;;;,';•;/:.:;,.