BRUTAL ASSAULT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1926, Page 9

BRUTAL ASSAULT

ELDERLY MAN ATTACKED. (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Richard Bavenhill (73), postmaster at Whangaroa, Great Barrier Island. was peacefully reading at 9 o'clock on the evening of 27th May, when Walter Bobert Manning ,-(43), a bushman, entered his room, sat on the bed, smoked a couple of cigarettes, and then without provocation hit Bavenhill on the face and endeavoured to choke him. Manning was chargod this morning with assault, and alternatively with common assault. Another resident said that' he went into the bedroom and saw Manning with both hands round tho postmaster's throat. Counsel for Manning said that on 12th May the latter had sent a moneyorder telegram through Bavenhill, ordering two, bottles of rum from Auckland. On the night in question ho went along to ask the old man about it, and Bavenhill said he did not get it through. The parcel was registered, and went through tho ordinary mail and had not been delivered yet. He alleged that Ravenhill said, "We drunk it," and also that tho accused did not havo a leg to stand on, as the Kauri Timber Company did not allow liquor in their camp. The accused was a returned soldier, who had suffered from tubercular trouble. He denied striking Ravenhill, but admitted pushing him. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., said that ho was quite satisfied Bavenhill had been brutally assaulted. Had it not been for the fact that the accused had been in hospital he would have sent him to gaol. The accused was fined £10, half to go to tho complainant, plus £14 3s 2d witnesses' expenses, in default two months' imprisonment.