PATUTAHI ASSAULT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1679, 21 February 1906, Page 2

PATUTAHI ASSAULT.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At the Police Court yesterday a voung man named Robert Leslie, was brought before Mr Barton, S.M., on a charge of having assaulted Patrick Rogers, causing him actual bodily harm. Sergeant Mackenzie conducted the prosecution, and Mr Stock appeared for the defendant. Patrick Rogers, carter, Patutahi, stated that on the 12 th instant he saw the accused at Morrow’s blacksmith shop at Patutahi. They had shifted the shop to another section, and finished the work on that afternoon. About 8 45 accused made insulting remarks about the women of Patutahi Witness said, “ You’re a liar.” They were both sitting down, and accused got up and made a blow at witness with his fist. Witness struck him back, and then accused’s brother came up. He did not remember anything more, until 10.30 he found himself walking homewards, accompanied by Mr Manson. His head was badly cut and injured, two fingers on the right hand broken, and the hand injured. ■ In cross-examination witness said he had had a few drinks from a two-gal-lon jar that was utilised but was quite sober at the time of the disturbance. They were sitting beside each other on the doorstep; accused struck him first.

Dr Cole stated that Rogers had been a good deal knocked about , the. face, head, and neck, and two bones iijL the right hand were broken; the head was much swollen, there were abrasions on the face, and a cut over, the right eyebrow. ~ William Manson,'carter, stated thabhe was in Morrow’s shop on the 12th. He saw Rogers fall heavily on the grass as though he were struck. He picked him up and put him outside the shop door. Witness cpxt saw Rodgers lying face down on the ground, and acoused kicking him on the head. Ho only saw Leslie kick him onoe. Witness picked Rogers up and took him home. He was bleediDg freely from his fac?, there being a cut acrosr the forehead.

A large number of witnesses were oal'ed, and the charge of assault and oauuing bodily barm was fully supported by the evidence. The accused reserved his defenoe, and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Gisborne, bail being allowed in two sureties oi £SO eaob, or one of £IOO. Accused was ad rnitted to bail.