MANAGER ASSAULTED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 388, 19 August 1911, Page 5

MANAGER ASSAULTED.

ASSAILANT FINED. At the Police Court, before Dr Carolan and T. Floyd, J.P.'s, this morning, R. A. Dutton, traveller for a patent medicine company, was charged with assaulting Mr F. B. Darrow. Manager of Green and Colebrook, Ltd., Te Kuiti, by striking him on the eye on the evening of Friday, August 11 th. Mr J. B. Sharpies appeared for the accused.

Constable Matthew, in outlining the case, said that the assault was an aggravated one, and that it was a case of not giving an order leading to the assault.

Evidence was given by Mr Darrow as to accused's wife coming to the shop for an order. He told lier that her lines were unsaleable, and that he would not stock them. About a quarter past six he met the accused in the doorway as he was leaving the shop, when the accused introduced himself as the husband of Mrs Dutton. He asked witness why he refused to stock his lines, to which accused received the reply that he would not stock them as they were unsaleable in Te Kuiti. Accused then hit witness with his clenched fist in the eye. On being cross-examined by Mr Sharpies, witness denied having called the lines offered by Mrs Dutton "muck." Dr Pax ton gave evidence as to the injuries sustained by Mr Darrow.

Mrs Dutton, wife of the accused, deposed that Mr Darrow had called the lines she was representing "muck." She had been a traveller [for 11 years, and had dune business all that time with Green and Culebrook. Accused, in giving evidence, said that as the result of what Mrs Dutton had told him he went to interview Mr Darrow, introducing himself. Mr Darrow said that he did not want any of his lines, and described them again as "muck." A ilttle argument took place as regards the truthfulness of the statement, and Mr Darrow said that he would not be called liar. Mr Darrow then hit him, and followed up with a kick, with the result that he retaliated.

The Bench were of the opinion that a cowardly assault had been committed. Accused was convicted and fined £5 and costs £1 14s. The Bench added that it was necessary that business people should be protected.