MIDNIGHT AFFRAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 6

MIDNIGHT AFFRAY.

STORY TOLD IN COURT, DRAMATIC DISAVOWAL, ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.' i (Bjr Toleeraph.—Prois Association.! Auckland, July 2-1. "If lam tried and found guilty, as God 'is my Judge, I am an innocent man. I am willing to admit what I have done, but I have not done violent crime of that sort. It is not my nature or my dis position to striko any man a blow like that." So protested Paul Eugene Serin in the Policc Court this morning, in the courso of a caso ill which ho was charged that, at Epsom on the night of Juno 25, lie assaulted A. J. Roberts, billiard saloonkeeper, bo as to cause him actual bodily barm. ■

I'lio chief witness against prisoner was Alfred James Roberts, who keeps a bookshop and billiard saloon opposite the train barn at Epsom. Ho stated tint about 11.25 p.m. on the date in question ho locked up and left the premises to go to his cottagc at the back. Ho noticed out of tho corner of I'.is eyo a dark object by tho side of an outbuilding. Hu turned his head to m 1 what it was, when he was struck on the t(ide of tho head by a piece of wood, two by two, and about three feet long. The man who had the wood took a step towards witness as tho latter fell oil his hands and knees. Waitress roso and called out, and tho man, who was tho accused, made for tho will of tho section, witness following. Accused carried tho stick over the wall. The night was a moonlight night, but there was «. hazy cloud over tho moon. Witness had a good look nt his assailant. Accused lived about 20 minutes' walk away from w'tness's place. The police came in response to witness's call, but his assailantgotaway Witness afterwards picked Serin out from amongst a number of men (more than a dozen, ho thought), and identified him as his assailant. / To accused: Ho was positively sure Serin was the man who struck him. Accused: What identification have you get? Witness: Your faoe. It is a remarkable face. . Accused: How? Witness: Your eyes, your nose, your hair, and moustache., , Then it was that Serin protested his innocenco in words given above. Continuing, Serin asked what reason ho would have for doing such a thing. Witness answered: Bobbery, I suppose. Thereupon prisoner said that ho himself had been similarly assaulted recently in Newton by a man who struck liiin on the nose, breaking it, and h« could not identify his assailant, though ho was a stronger man than and betteT able to stand such a blow. He could give no reason why lio was hit. "Now, Mr. Roberts," ho went on, "don't you honestly and truthfully think you have made a mistake?" Witness: No. . Accused: Well, you have, because I can prove where I was, which I will do. Dr. Smith stated that the wound on Roberts's head was about two inches long, and bled very profusely. Had it been kwer down on the head it would have been very dangerous. Serin pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial.