AN ALLEGED ASSAULT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1924, Page 2

AN ALLEGED ASSAULT

CHRISTCHURCH, July 11

The hearing was concluded yesterday of the charge of assault laid against a Methodist preacher, Henry Robert Wilkinson, in the Magistrate’s Court. The plaintiff was Maude Eva Noble, a widow.

The statement of claim set out that the defendant assaulted and heat the plaintiff by striking and kicking her whereby her leg and arm were bruised so that she suffered mental and bodily pain, and her general health had been reduced. She therefore claimed the sum of £SO as damages. A counter-claim was entered for the recovery of a gramophone and records lent to plaintiff by defendant, or in ease possession could not h« had. the sum of £B-1 10s and £lO damages for the conversion of the goods. in the course of evidence for the plaintiff. Airs E. H. Gosling said she remembered when Wilkinson canto into the house. She ami her liuslmnd rented rooms from Mrs Noble. She sajv Wilkinson and Mrs Noble struggling, but site got sttcli a shock that she went hack into her room. She heard Wilkinsrin call Mrs Noble a linr. When Airs Noble screamed she ran out again. She thought Wilkinson was then in the hall. She thought AVilkinson’s foot upset the palm-stand. Aft's Harvey was in tin* sitting-room. They would only he in the dining-room a few seconds.

Air Thomas (for defendant) said that it was fortunate in cases like this that they had one truthful witness. Airs Gosling's evidence was corroborated by that of Lo Rage, which had been taken on commission. It was a polite case of blackmail and he would come right out into the open with it. It was a case of tlying to get money by saving that an assault was made when It was in reality not made at all. Air Wilkinson would sav that they were never engaged and evidence had been taken that, although .Mrs Noble had a ling which Wilkinson had given her, it was never worn. Airs 'Palmers evidence was that Airs Noble was tt great friend of hers. Airs Noble said they were only friendly, yet ATrs Palmer said their relations were basinets relations only. There was not a single l>it of evidence from Alts Gosling of the struggle iu the diningroom. The thing was untrue. AVilkiusou was a foolish man. ft was the Court’s htniness to protect a fool from scheming women as long as there were fi.ols in the world, lx? Page was standing right, at the front door all the time Lo Pag** would sav that "Wilkinson got to the door first. Airs Noble then got to the door, and when the floor was flung open Airs Noble got in first. She then liegan to scream. Wilkinson realising that ho was trapped, ran hack to the door and said to I.e Page. "Come and look at her; she is standing in the middle of the room and screaming, trying to make out that I have hit her. T have done nothing of the sort.

After hearing the evidence of defendant and Le Page, judgment was given for the defendant on the claim and counter-claim with costs..