AFFRAY AT ALEXANDRA BARRACKS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 10

AFFRAY AT ALEXANDRA BARRACKS

VISITING DETENTION PKISONERS. In tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before- Mr. S. E. Al'Cnrthy, S.M., William Fraser ami his son Jlartin Fraser were charged with assaulting Gunner Cliarlea Frankland Cook, also with obstructing Charles I'rankland Cook, an oiiicer carrying out tho orders of the military authorities. >. Mr. J. .T. Jl'Gratli.nppenred for bolli defendants, and Inspector Marsuck ijrosequted. Gunner Cook in giving evidence said that on the aftornoon of April 17 he waa posted as sentry in charge of detection prisoners at Alexandra iiarracks. lie was stationed ft the foot of the staira on the iirst floor, tho detention prisoners being on the- floor above. It was a day on which visitors were allowed to tee prisoners. About i.lb p.m. ho saw William Fraser coming out of tho messroom, where ho had no right to be. Defendant tried to push pasa witness and go upstairs, where he was not privileged to go. lie was asked where ho v.as going, and Fraser eaid he wanted to see ii soldier, and again tried to push past witness. Fraser was drunk at the lime. Ho made another effort to push past, when witness took him by the anus, ami while in the act of pushing him away from the stairs he- was struck from behind, and on looking round he discovered that it was Stuart Fraser, a detention prisoner and son of William Fiaser, who had kicked him. Witness made a backhanded smack at the man, when he was jumped upon by Martin Fraser. Witness staggered against the stairs with Martin Fraser on his back, and they both fell. A rough-aml-tumblo occurred, and another gunner came to his assistance. William Fraser did not take part in tho sniffle. Witness .arrested Martin Fraser, who said, "Don't man-handle me, I will go quietly." AVitness took his word for it, but when he got to the top of the stairs and witness was about three cr four steps below, the man turned round and kicked witness twice. There were about ten prisoners below seeing their friends, and there were others on the flat above. Those upstairs were hanging over the tstiirs hooting and shouting at witness. When Martin Fraser kicked him he drew hia revolver and hit him a glancing blow on the side of tho neck and head, .ind he sank down. Then witness turned the revolver on tho detention men above because he thought they would attempt a rescue. In the meantime two other soldiers were in the thick of a struggle while arrestiug Stuart Fraser and William Fraser.

In cross-examination the witness stated that there would have been no troublo had not Stuart Fraser attacked him from behind.

Private Mark Wood gave corroborative evidence. Mr. J. J. M'Grath explained that the elder l'Vaser was at the, time under tlie influence of liquor. Besides the two sons ho had fivo children at home, and counsel suggested that if a conviction woro recorded tlie man should not be incarcerated but fined. Martin Fraser, he said, was an epileptic, and hardly responsible for his action. William FraserVas lined .£5, and the case against Martin Fraser was dismissed on the ground that lie v,'as an epileptic subject and was acting under the influence of his father and was not responsible for what he did.