AN ASSAULT CASE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2465, 19 May 1915, Page 3

AN ASSAULT CASE

SHAREBROKER AND MUSICIAN. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hamilton, May 18. An altercation in the diningroom of the Hamilton Hotel one evening last week was the basis of a charge of assault against Arthur Coe, a well-known sharebroker of Auckland, by Johan Wielaert, one of Auckland's leading musicians and leader of the Auckland Orchestral Society.

The evidence showed that for somo years prior to the outbreak of war the complainant was known as Herr Wie'aert, a title w'hich had been given him b.v Mr. George Musgrove when touring with the latter's companies in Australasia. Since the declaration of war both the complainant and his wife (who was a native of Southland, Now Zealand) had been subjected to much annoyance by being mistaken for Germans, and Wielaert on his return from England a short time ago advertised the fact that he was born in Holland of Belgian parents. On Monday evenling last the complainant entered the diningroom of the Hamilton Hotel, and took a seat alongside of Dalton and'an Auckland friend. With Dalton was defendant Coe, to whom Dalton introduced Wielaert. Coo accepted the introduction very ungraciously, and merely grunted in response to Wielacrt's acknowledgment. A little later a discussion arose upon the. war and the 1 sinking of the Lusitama, during which Coe accused complainant of being a German. Wielaert replied that he was of Belgian extraction and was born in Holland, whereupon Coe called him a liar. Complainant replied that Coe was the liar. At this defendant arose, slapped Wielaert on the face, knocking his pince-nez to the other side of the room, following this blow up with another with his fist. Wielaert recovered his glasses and resumed his seat at the table, when Coe seized complainant's plate and threw it on the floor with the remark that lie would not sit at table with a German. Wielaert then left the room, half-dazed from tho blow.

Wielaert put in his birth certificate, proving that he was born m Holland, and stating that his mother was born at Maestricht, on the border of Belgium and Holland, and that his father was a pure Belgian, the "ae" in "Wielaert" being a peculiarly Belgian combiuation. Coe admitted the assault, and apologised to Wielaert. He asked the Bench to take a lenient view of the case under the circumstances. He stated that his feelings were roused over the sinking of tlio Lusitania, and he had momentarily lost his head.

The Bench, in fining Coe ]os. and costs, said that Wielaert had fully justified his nationality and standing in the community, and hoped he would receive the / favourable consideration to which he was entitled.'

Counsel for complainant said the matter would not rest at the present case as Wielaert intended to pureua it further by. way. of & slander action,