Feilding R.M. Court

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 44, 1 October 1889, Page 3

Feilding R.M. Court

«_ _ Monday, September 30th, 1889. (Before Dr Monckton and G Kirton, ■: ..-•■•. .«. J*R.a.)-*» - Police v WiPata. Accused was charged with:behaxdng in a violent manner on the platform at the railway station, Halcornbe, on the 15th of August, contrary to the •provisions of the Public Works Act, 1882, arid the amendments thereof — clause 157, sub-section 4. Mr Baker was sworn as interpreter. Mr G. Eyre, station master at Halcombe, deposed : Knew the accused ; on August 15th on arrival of the train from the south went into the guards van ; when he came out he saw the accused in a fight with a European, who gave the name of Johnston. Constable Meehan said a "warrant had been issued for the arrest of Johnston. Wituesa continued: There was a big crowd of people on the platform ; accused had previously been troublesome ; he was a peculiar man ; a copy of the Public Works Act in English is posted \ip at the railway station; there is none in the native language. By the accused : Did not know where the other man was. James Purkiss deposed : He was a settler at Halcombe ; remembered one evening in August, the night of the races in Feilding j saw accused on the Halcombe railway platform ; he hit a man on the back of the neck and knocked him down ; a crowd collected. By the Bench : Did not think the accused was drunk. By the accused: Saw him strike but did not know whether it was the first blow. By Constable Meehan: When the accused is in liquor he is pretty rough ; only saw accused hit the other man on the back of the neck. Mr Eyre was re-called at the request of the accused ; was not aware that any one had made a confusion by assaulting him ; went into a horse box after the other man. By the Bench : After witness had separated the men accused struck the other man again ; had spoken to the accused several times. Fined 403 and costs 11s, witnesses 15s, in default 14 days' imprisonment.