Foxton Assault Case.

Manawatu Herald, 9 February 1904, Page 3

Foxton Assault Case.

At the Palmerston Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, J. W. Collinga was charged with assaulting T. Cameron by striking him on the head with a bottle at the Foxton races.

Mr Moore appeared for accused. Dr Wilson said he was called to attend Cameron on the evening of January 22nd. He found him to be suffering from a jagged wound from the neck to the back of the head. It was a bad wound, one inch deep and in one place the skull was chipped. He did not think there would be permanent injury, T. Cameron, flaxcutter, said be was at the Foxton races on January 22nd. ■ Met accused there. Did not know him before. A ccused insulted him when he went into the course, but afterwards apologised, and witness shouted for him. Later on in the day saw accused having a row with, a man named Sweeney, who was his mate. About an hour afterwards when leaving the course with Sweeney witness felt a blow on the back of the head. Knew no more till his head was being stitched up. P. W. Sweeney said he was at the Foxton races on the 22nd. Took Cameron awa / from what appeared to be a drunken quarrel. Afterwards another man was quarrelling with Cameron. Witness told accused to leave them to settle it themselves. This led to a quarrel between witness and accused, which ended in witness knocking accused down. Witness then took Cameron away, and about five minutes afterwards heard a bottle breaking on Cameron’s head. Thought at the time the blow was meant for himself.

A. Reeve, flaxmiller, deposed he saw the quarrel between accused and Sweeney. After it, accused picked Up a black beer bottle, and made a motion as if to throw it. Some people shouted out and he dropped the bottle. Shortly afterwards he started after Cameron and Sweeney, picked up another bottle, and when about six yards from them he threw it, and it struck Cameron. He thought the blow was intended for Sweeney. J. W. Anderson, H. D. Hopkins, and Constable Lander gave corroborative evidence as to the assault. Mr Moore said be did not propose to call any evidence. The accused was committed for trial, on the evidence, at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.