HELENSVILLE S.M. COURT.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 August 1919, Page 3

HELENSVILLE S.M. COURT.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 271 H.

(Before Mr Hunt, S.M.)

POLICE V. LEtfA RAPANA

Lena Rapana, a Maori woman, was charged that on May 4th last, at Helensville, she supplied three other' Maori women with liquor. On that date (a Sunday }' accused was packing up her belongings, prior to shifting, and had the other three women helping her. Finding a bottle of brandy in the house they partook of this, with the result that one of the women became drunk. The brandy had been given accused by a pakeha, who had since died.

Accused was convicted, and ordered to pay costs amounting to £2 4s.

-POLICE V. PETRIE.

A good deal of interest has been taken in this case. F. J. Petrie (fisherman) was charged that on the evening of July 25th last he unlawfully assaulted Thomas Scott by striking hfm on the head with a bottle. Petrie (Mr Hall Skelton) pleaded not guilty.

In his evidence, Scott stated that on the night in question, he called in at the Terminus Hotel on his way from work, had a couple of drinks, and proceeded home. By the bridge, accused, who had previously called out to witness several times, caught up to him. and asked "Are you looking for my blood ?" Witness denied accusation, and said he did not want anything to do with. Accused was with, a mate. Witness had a bundle of on his shoulder. He dropped these, and the next things he knew was being punched in the eye. There was a bit of a scuffle, and witness was then hit over the head with a bottle. He went home, and had to have five stitches put in his head. The matter was reported at once to the police.

In answer to a question, witness admitted he had previously been before the court for assault. He denied absolutely giving Petrie a gash across the jaw.

Witness denied at any time calling Petrie a "crawler." He further stated he knew it was a bottle he had been struck with because the beer ran down his neck.

Mr Skelton: You're sure it wasn't the beer you'd had in the hotel running down your neck ?

Harriet Scott, wife of witness, stated she dressed her husband's wounds, and identified a piece of glass (produced) found in his clothing.

Constable Hunt gave evidence as to Scott's condition after the assault, also detailed events leading up to the assault. A broken bottle and wrapping paper (produced) was found on the footpath where assault had taken place. Two boards (with blood stains) were also lying on the grass,

F. J. Petrie, the accused, stated that on the day in question he had had several drinks, but was not the worse for liquor. He followed Scott after latter had come out of the hotel, to ask why he had called witness a "orawler." Scott dropped the wood he was carrying, excepting one piece, with which he hit witness over the jaw, inflicting a cut which afterwards required two stitches. He denied hitting Soott over the head with a bottle.

A. Brace, labourer, said he was with accused at the time of the quarrel, but didn't recollect much then, as ho was " pretty well druok." Eowever, witness detailed the occurrence, whioh, he said, "must hive come back to him."

The Magistrate, hi summing up. said that aocused should have let Sc»tt go home peacefully. Biawls in the street such as had occurred had to ]>c stopped. Accused was the aggressor, but Suott" was not onurely blameless. Accused would be u'oe.l £5 and costs 17s. Hilf the fine was to go to Scott.

The court case, Martin v, Noda, which was partly heard yesterday, was adjourned to Auckland for further hearing. The date will be fixed later. An account of this case will be published in our next issue.