ASIA ASSAULT CASE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 158, 24 May 1909, Page 5

ASIA ASSAULT CASE.

At the last Aria Sports meeting a disagreement arose between some of tne spectator* of a chopping competition and was ventilated at the Magistrate '» Court on Thursday last, when A. R. Keighly and A. Morgan were charged with creating a breach of the peace. A charge of assault was also laid by J. Keighly against A,. Morgan and a similar charge was laid by Morgan against A. R. Keighly. Mr Sharpies appeared for the Keighly Brothers and Mr Hine for Morgan As the cirewnstnees in one case applied to the whole it was decided to hear all the charge* together. Constable Mathew gave evidence as to being present at the sports and seeing a disturbance. He hurried to the scene and saw Morgan with his coat off. Morgan delivered a blow at somebody whom witness coo Id not see 'owing to the crowd. Subsequently John Keighly said he got the blow. Morgan had some skin off his nose which was slightly bleeding. A. R. Keighly was not marked. Morgan said Keighly was the aggressor; Keighly said Morgan was the first to i start the trouble. In cross examination by Mr Hine

witness said he did not see the beginning of the row. as he was about 20 yards away. He saw Morgan strike the btow. Had known Morgan since he had been in the district. Morgan was sommewhat excitable, but did not know him to be figbtable.

To Mr Sharpies: Had known the Keighlys since they came to the dis- | trict about three years ago. They were sober, quiet fellows. George Smith, a sawmill hand at Aria, gave evidence as to being at the sports. He was standing beside A. R. Keighly. The latter bumped against | witness and he, witness, turned to see j what was the matter. Saw James t Smyth with his hand on A. R. Keigh- | ly's arm and telling Keighly to stand j back as he cootd not see the chop, j Words passed between the two men. I F. Smyth, who was a sports official. ' also came up and spoke. Morgan came up and said to Keighly: "Young man your'e looking for trouble."at the same time striking oot. Keighly took the blow on his arms and Morgan went back among the crowd and took off bis coat and hat. Morgan came back and he and Keighly went at it. Keighly struck Morgan on the nose. The affair was stopped by the bystanders. John Keighly then came along and spoke to bis brother. Morgan said. "This is one of them." and struck John Keighly on the jaw. Cross-examined by Mr Sharpies: Saw Dick Keighly do nothing to provoke Morgan, who was the first to strike. Arthur Morgan's story varied somewhat from that of the previous witness. the defendant stating that A. R. Keighly was the aggressor. Keighly came in front of Mr Smyth and when requested to move became excited. He. Morgan, told Keighly he was looking for trouble and that be should go away. Keighly threw op his arm and struck witnses under the chin. Wtiness then proceeded to take off bis ! coat and when in the act of doing so Keighly struck witness on the eye. Somebody then intervened and immediacy afterwards John Keighly came at witress'and witness half shoved him j aside adn half bit bim.

Similar evidence to that of Morgan was given by J. Smyth. J. McCready, and W. Motem*. A. R. Keighly'-* version of the trouble was similar to the story of G. Smith. In cross-examination by Mr Hinc witness said the witnesses who told a different story were animated by spite. Witness did not strike Morgan when the latter had his coat half off'

Morgan went into the crowd and took bis coat off.

John Hirst Keighly in evidence stat ed that he first saw Morgan advancing in fighting attitude atowards his brother. Witness corroborated his brother's statement as to what occured between Morgan and A. R. Keighly. Witness went thcrough the crowd to bis brother and was standing when Morgan »av him and struck bim on the jaw. Doctor Zob >l. of Te Kuiti. testified as to the injury to the last witness* jaw. He said it could have been caused by a blow and not by toothacke. Evidence was also given by D. Baigent. C. Hegglin, and D. Anderson. His Worship said he had come to the conclusion thai Morgan was to blame in the matter.

In coeMqtNiKc of the heavy coats be woo Id be fined Is in each case and ordered to pay costs. The costs amounted to £24 Is.

The cases against A. R. Keighty wege dismissed

Watch out! "The Irish Detective." The second social of the season under the auspices pf the Te Kuiti Oddfellows* jLodgv was held in (he Hall on Thursday evening last. Dancing was commenced at 8 p.m., and a thoroughly enjoyable time was spent until midnight. The next social is to be held a month hence.

Attention is drawn to Uw notice appearing In another column with respect to the sale of freehold sections at Tr Koiti, the property of Mr Rarnett. The sections arc admirably situated for business or residence sites and arc bound to be widely sought after. The sale is advertised to be held on June 1 tth at Te Koiti all, by Messrs Dalgety and Co., in conjunction with Messrs Lorigan aond Co., of Te Kuiti. The through express train from Auckland to Wellington arrived at Te Kuiti three quarters of an boor late |hfct morning owing to the engine running hot at fc'rinkloo. A smaller en* was put on and an assisting engine was sent with the train from Te Kuiti to Poro-o-tarao.

During the bearing of a liquor case if fe Kpiti Court )aat Thursday Mr Wnlay »*ked a witness if be would consider it infra, dig. to speak to or associate with a roan who had previously been convicted In a grog case in that Court. "No, certainly not," replied the witness. "Neither would I," said Mr Fin lay. Pallid, thin, and passing weak. Shivering in the cold wind bleak. Coughing till he scarce can speak. This is the man without it! Laughing at c«el) cough and cold, What fa this that makes bin bold? draft that?* worth its weight in goldWoods' feppfcrinint Cure don't doubt it.