ATTACK WITH HAMMER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 6

ATTACK WITH HAMMER

Struggle in Woodville Shop YOUNG MAN FOR SENTENCE Tlio circumstances surrounding a savage assault with a hammer in the saloon of a Woodville liairdressing esfcablishment on the night of November 15 were related in the Woodville Court when a 21-year-old farm hand, Harold Colvin Drager, was charged with wounding Artliur Harris with xntent to do grievous bodily harm. Harris said tbat Drager, whom he had known for six or seven years, came to the back door of the shop and asked for a packet of cigarettes. Drager followed him into the shop and beliind the counter, where he tendered a 10/note. Witness gave Drager his change and as he was putting the cash box back in the safe he received a hlow on the head, and on looking round saw Drager with a hammer in his raised hands. He warded off a second blow by rushing in close and a struggle follow**d, in which witness received two more blows on the head. Finally they both fell with Drager nnderneatb. Witness seized the hammer and made for the front door, where h© called to two men standing 011 the street. When the men and witness went back into the shop accused rexnarked: "I don't know wliy I did this to you. That girl bas got me out of my mind. I have been getting letters from her nearly every day asking me what I am going to do. I owe money all over the countryside. What can 1 doP" Witness denied that he had been making statements about accused. He said he had been acceptin3g bets from Drager over a period of about two years, but there bad been no argument over any transaction causing Drager to commit the assault. Detective Eric Compton produced a statement made by accused giving details of the assault on Harris. Drager said he had been betting with Harris for five years. During the past six months it had come to his ears that Harris had been saying things againsi his cliaracter and he brooded over them. He then made up his mind to see Harris and have tlie matter out. Accused pleaded guilty und was commltted to the Supreme Court in Wellington for Sentence