ACTION FOR DAMAGES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1927, Page 4

ACTION FOR DAMAGES

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 9. Alleging that he had been assaulted by W. J. Pritchard, ex-licensee of the Club Hotel, Sydenham, Hugh Draffin, ol Christeiiureli, labourer, claimed from Pritchard the sum of £B9, which included £35 for loss of wages, £3 16s hospital expenses, and £SO general

da ma ges. Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for plaintiff and Mr W. J. Hunter for defendant.

Plaintiff stated that lie had gone into the hotel with a friend named Gibbons. Before Pritchard entered they Iliad had one drink. Pritchard said, “How’s the wife?” He then sidled along the bar and struck witness in the eye. Prior to this an elderly man had entered, and Pritchard hnd struck him in the chest, knocking him down. Before striking witness Pritchard hnd struck the other mail in the eye. Pritchard then rushed at witness and threatened to punch him. He grabbed witness around the neck, but the barman had interfered. Witness had started to (leave the hotel, when Pritchard followed him. He rushed at plaintiff with his head down, and witness had struck at him. Ho hit |iim on the, head, and the hones in witness’s hand above the knuckles were broken. Throe days later witness met Pritchard, who asked him how his hand was. They had a drink together, and Pritchard had offered to help him. Witness had been out of work for eight weeks. His hand was still weak. To Mr Hunter witness admitted that he hail been co-respondent in a divorce case last week, and the woman in that case lie referred to as his wife. Pritchard had ordered five drinks, and when witness offered to pay for t-ho second round of drinks the trouble started. j Air Hunter: Did you ever toll Prit- j chard that you lmd won boxing clinm- j pionships?—Vos. ■ ?>fr Hunter stated that plaintiff's 1

story was untrue. William .John Pritchard stated Hint lie liad been in the bar with two friends. DrnfTin entered and asked him to “shout,’’ stating that if Pritchard paid for one round ho would pay for another. When the second round was ordered, Drnffin had refused to pay. Witness told him that it was near six o’clock, and they would all have to go. Prnffm said that if he did not want to go. what would happen? Witness told him that he would he put out. Plaintiff then snid that witness would not put him out, and then struck him, leaving the hotel shortly afterwards. Witness went into the passage, and was again struck by plaintiff. A few days later he had mot plaintiff, who had asked him to have n drink. Plaintiff had told witness that he had won the feather-weight and bantam-weight championships at Auckland. To Air Thomas witness stated that he did not drink to excess, lie only drank “pony shandies,” of which he could drink forty. Witness had never had trouble with plaintiff, except that plaintiff had asked money from him. After hearing further evidence his Worship gave judgment for defendant with costs.