FINED FOR ASSAULT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1926, Page 4

FINED FOR ASSAULT

.MAN WHO FAILED TO CONTROL TEMPER. Aroused to anger by the spectacle of a cut on tho body ol a horse he set some store by, George Wiggins, a. middle-aged man, hit with a whip the nine-voar-old boy who was said to have thrown the stone which caused the cut. At the Children’s Court, Christchurch, on Saturday, Wiggins pleaded guilty to a charge of having assaulted the boy. ~

Senior-Sergeant Martin said that on .June 14 defendant was driving a, twohorse dray along Cambridge Terraco, Woolston,' when lie used Hie whip oil the hoy and cut him across the face. It was alleged, that the hoy had thrown a stone, but even had he done so defendant should have put tho. matter in the hands of the police. Defendant was sorry for what he lilul done, and the hoy denied that lie had thrown a stone.

ATr Tracey, who appeared for defend ant. said that the hoy threw two stones, one striking the horse and cutting its flesh, and the other hitting defendant on the leg. Defendant called the boy over, and as lie offered no excuse or apology he struck him on tho shoulder.. Defendant in answer to Air ILV Y. Widdowson S.AL, said he did not mean to hit the hoy on the face. He was annoyed because one of the horses .was valuable, and further because there was a danger that tlio pair might have bolted. Air Widdowson: That was certainly aggravating, but you should have controlled your temper better.

Wiggins was fined 40s. in default seven days’ imprisonment.