HIT WITH A POKER

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1925, Page 1

HIT WITH A POKER

MAN LOSES LY K [iy TEi.nonArrf —pki: puess association'.J AUCKLAND, <mpl. ‘2O. The sequel (n a serious si niggle at Papakwra on the night, of August 22. was heard in the .Magistrate’s Court at I’a (i a kora, when Hugh Kirk, aged do, n married man. was charged with assaulting his wife and three neighbours. Mr I!. 11. Singer represented (lie accused. Tile licensed was angry when he came home un tlie night of Saturday, August 22nd. because lii.s wife had called in a doctor to attend an injury to the kneecap of their live-year-old son. This was the stateim-nt of Mrs Kirk. The accused said i lint, if necessary. lie could cut oil' l lie lad's leg himsell. Kirk then went to gel the axe. Witless left the house, witli her children. Mrs Patterson fa neighbour), and Colin I'atteiNon (aged 10). They went lo Mrs |’at I or.sou’ house across the si reel. Kirk followed, and in the dining room lie seized witness hv the arm. twisting it a little. Hugh Paitersuii. the husband ol Mrs Patterson. then seized Kirk, his sons Colin and Gordon Pati-rson assisting. Alter Ihe s'niggle, (he three Pattersons threw Kirk on his hack on rhe kitchen llonr. IVn blows with a linker were dealt Kirk by Patterson senior, continued Mrs Kirk. The Mows were struck across the lorehead. the second sinking the eye. Knell blow drew blood, and Kill; teas rendered unconseiuus. Witness llieu i ushed in her husband, and put her hands uver the wounds. To Mr Singer: When Paitersuii used jhc poker on Kirk, witness heard one of the Patterson youths says : “Oh. Pad. don’t do that. Have a heart! To Sergeant Cowan: Kirk had a. lew drinks, hut lie was sober. She had previously complained to the police illh lll l his coming home drunk, and striking her. To Mr, McKean. S.M : She was frightened of Kirk on the night under review, lie was calling out that he would "do for them all.” Evidence wa.s given by the Patterson family that when Kirk- rushed at bis wife in Patterson’s home. she screamed calling out- that he uu~ breaking her arm. The, Patterson 0n-.1.-ivoured to push Kirk out oi the , i „u, ~ 1... nsi-lci violent !v house, and v. lien in »« 1 ' ll • they threw him. with the object -I |ring him with ropes. ■ |’atarson sour, said fhai Kirk was aalling out all the time that d he |d ~fct a gun. he would slioo: them alb Kirk kicked witness on the ..aw, x V -i s s .,j.i jig. rt*tl that Kirk mi^bi ( _ vt l ‘‘o. av " :lll ,| r:ii-rv out bis threat. ko he used the poker. dealing Kirk two blows, as the first one did not “Com make much impression. When Knk came to. about an hour later, lie v.as handed over to the po ice. who mu u called from Pekooho. The evidence of the Pattersons was to the effect that Kirk was not drunk, but inflamed uitli liquor. Mr Singer stated that the accused > left eve had been reduced f> (ndo. and was taken out a' the hospital on Au"".Mr'Mckean agreed with Afr Singer s si,l,mission that Kirk had been aifl ■ eientlv punished by the loss of Ins b's. Wc'u-eil was couvieied of assaulting Ins' wife, and was ordered m pay costs ' 1 -n,o Magistrate dismissed the chargers of assaulting the Pattersons o i-ei v ing that they were incdenta, to struggle.