A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4656, 1 February 1924, Page 4

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON BAILIFF.

WOMAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL- '

Some court officials have at times very unpleasant duties to perform (writes a Stratford correspondent). A case in point- occurred recently, and in view of the seriousness of the matter Arthur Hooper Richmond* a farmer at - Midbii’st, -and his wife, Bertha Richmond, who is also -i teacher under the Taranaki Education Board, have been charged under the Grimes Act with an aggravated assault, in obstructing a sheriff’s officer in executing a writ of sale. The wife was further charged with damaging a Thornycroft motor lorry to the extent of £25. Sergeant Dale prosecuted and Mr P. O’Dea, with Mr W. H. Freeman, appeared for both accused.

The two accused, who were at one time farming in quite a big way in the Midhirst district, had an overdraft with he Union Bank at Stratford. When times'became hard the bank sued fox its overdraft, obtain-, ing judgment for £470. The bank thereupon issued an execution against the furniture and effects of the Richmonds. This included a motor car. The bailiff at Sitratford (Mr Harvey) went out twice to seize the goods, but Mrs Richmond became hysterical bn each occasion. On the husband - asking for time to see his solictor at Hawera the bailiff desisted. On the second occasion the bailiff had Constable Chestnut with him- On the first occasion he had found the outer gate padlocked, but he managed to cut through the chain. As the.bajliff at Stratford whs unsuccessful and later had an attack of illness, the sheriff at New Plymouth commissioned the bailiff at New Plymouth (Mr W. H. Southam) to do the work. Southam arrived with a five-ton Thornycroft motor lorry, and tentred the house before the occupants were aware of it. He commenced by pointing out the most suitable objects of furniture that he was about to seize. At this Mrs Richmond geemed to lose control of herself, and said her home would only be taken from her over her dead body. She abused the saying it was only “undersized hirelings who take on suchra job.’’ With a poker sheepmmeneed to demolish the glass inthe mirrors, etc., whicn the bailiff said 1 he would take. The bailiff beat a hasty retreat, but later returned with Constable ChestnutMrs Richmond then came out with a pickaxe and attacked the Thornyernft lorry, breaking the windscreen ani lamps and damaging the bonnettSh< j also broke the glass in her motor car, and sitting in it said it would only be taken with her. Before this .she had chased Southam with a hammer, but the contstable intervened. Eventually she was quieted and the cai'-wasi taken* but the furniture was not touched.

The constable, in giving evidence, said she was quite distraught. She had a fainting fit while he. was present. Oh his return to Stratford he sent Dr. Gordon to attend her. In reply" to Mr O’Dea the bailiff denied that the door was closed when he entered. It was: ajar and he walked in. He-did not remember whether he had his hat on. He would deny that things would have been different if “lie had been more tactful. The husband had made no attempt to calm his wife, but adopted a passive attitude except when he returned with the constable. Richmond then s'aid that anyone removing any goods would be shot.

At the conclusion of the case for the prosecution Mr O’Dea. submitted that there was no case against Richmond. The Court upheld this contention and dismissed the charge against him. Mrs'Richmond was committed for trial at the next Su-, premt Court sessions at New Plymouth, and reserved her defence.