THE BATTLE OF KAITI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 148, 4 July 1901, Page 2

THE BATTLE OF KAITI.

ACCUSED CAUTIONED AND DISCHARGED.

There was quite a crowd of spectators at the Police Court yesterday morning, when the case arising out of the Battle of Kaiti, reported in these columns some days ago, was called on. The boys against whom informations had been laid were seven in number, and they wore charged with using insulting behaviour towards one Thomas Campbell Cummings. Two of them were discharged, as it was considered by the flench that there was no case against them. Messrs W. D. Lysnar and R. N. Jones

appeared as counsel for the defendants. Sergeant Siddells, in opening the case, said that he had laid the informations entirely in the interests of the boys, and also as a warning to them that they must not annoy ' the complainant. The story .of the boys’ escapade was graphically told by the Sergeant. The complainant, ho said, came to the Police Station without his hat, and his clothes bore signs of wet mud. He stated that he had been ill-treated by a number of boys, and witness went with him to Kaiti, together with a constable and a detective. Witness sent the complainant ahead, and when opposite Dr Craig’s residence ho heard boys coining towards them. One of the boys said, “ Halloa, Tom, how are you ? ” Complainant called out, “ Here they are,” and witness chased one of the hoys in the direction of the bridge, and caught him. Returning with the boy he found that three of the other boys had been captured. He told them they would have to accompany him back to the Kaiti | wharf. One hoy commenced to cry, protesting that he had nothing to do with the affair. Another courageously remarked, “ It is no use telling lies about it, wo wore all there, and were simply teasing the old fellow. One is just as bad as another.” Another of the defendants when questioned stated that ho would not touch the complainant on any account, as ho was afraid of catching the plague. The complainant deposed that the boys threw him down and rolled him in the mud, evidence to this effect being also given by Frank Joseph Anderson. Sergeant Siddells said that if boys were allowed to continue such conduct it would soon lead to something worse. It was the starting of what they called “ pushes,” and unless it was checked b.y-and-hye it would not ho safe for respectable people to be about the streets. He thought the boys had gone there purely and simply for a lark. . ■ ,

His Worship severely lectured the boys, pointing out that Cummings was entitled to as much protection as any person. He had no doubt that'what the defendants did they did in fun, but fun to them meant annoyance and’provocation to Cummings. He thought parents should keep their children in at night. After further cautioning the boys, His Worship discharged them.