ASSAULT CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1933, Page 2

ASSAULT CHARGE

HOKITIKA MAN INJURED.

GREYMOUTH, February 25. At the ‘Magistrate’s Court before Mr W. Meldrum S.M., Michael O’Brien was charged with assaulting George Montagu in Mawhera Quay on Friday evening. The accused pleaded not guilty. George Montagu, second engineer of the m.v. Gael, said that about nine o’clock last evening, when he was coming down Mawhera Quay, returning to his ship, the accused came running up alongside him and said “I)o you still want this dog.” Witness did not know what the accuseu was talking about, and the next thing lie knew, the accused bad struck him on the mouth, knocking him down. Witness had had to be attended liy a doctor, who inserted two stitches in his dim. He bad no chance of saying a word to the accused before he was knocked down.

Sergeant Hodgins said it appeared that the accused just “hauled off” and knocked Montagu. When witness was taking the accused to the police station, lie denied being in Ala w her a Quay that evening: Later lie saiu lie would give the another hiding, when he saw him next. However, when he saw Afontagu at the lock-up, lie denied ever having seen him before. This morning, however, he had changed his mind, and said he hit Montagu, because the latter had insulted his (O’Brien’s) wife. The accused was about fighting drunk when arrested.

Tliof accused ,in evidence, said lie struck Afontagu because the latter insulted his wife, who was walking in Mawhera Quay, with children in a pram.

To the Sergeant: He, did not hear his wife tell the. Sergeant, at her home that she was . with, her husband all night, and that he could not have assaulted anyone.

The Sergeant said the .accused was a miner hv ocupation ,and had four young children.

The accused was convicted and fined £9, with costs 10s, in default seven days’ mprisonment, £1 of the fine to be paid to Afontagu for medical expenses., Accused was allowed 14 days in which to make payment.