POLICE COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 483, 21 September 1909, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

ASSAULT ON HARBOUR

MASTER.

At the local Police Court yesterday afternoon, before Messrs Thomas Rimmer and F. W. Frankland, J’s.P., Frederick Dunn was charged on the information of John B. Hall, that on September 14th, at the Manawatu Heads, he did unlawfully assault John Broadbent Hall, Harbourmaster, by striking. him on the right temple. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and asked that the case be adjourned until the next sitting ot the Magistrate’s Court, as there was a case pending against Hall for threatening his life after last Court day.

Mr Reade, who appeared for Mr Hall, protested against any adjournment, because as things were at present, Mr Hall’s life was in danger. The Justices decided to hear the case.

For the prosecution Mr Reade called John B. Hall, who stated that on 14th inst, he was on the beach, and saw a boat belonging to Dunn containing two nets. He measured one, and found it to be over the regulation Pie then proceeded to carry out his other duties. Later on Mr Hadfield came down on business, and he then saw Dunn on the river in the boat. Eventually he landed, and witness went over and asked him if the nets belonged to him. He answered “ I suppose so.” Witness then told him that he desired to measure the nets. Dunn then threatened to- knock his brains out, and picked up the nets and took them to his whare. Witness called to Mr Hadfield, and they went to Dunn’s whare. Dunn came out and struck witness, knocked him down and kicked him. If Mr Hadfield had not been present he would have been in danger of his life. He afterwards rang up the doctor, who came down and attended him. He still felt the effects of the rough handling he had received .

In reply to defendant, witness said he was perfectly sober at the time, and had not threatened Dunn at any time. Dr Mandl said that in consequence of a message received, he proceeded to the beach and ekamined Mr Hall, whom he found to be suffering from a bruise on the right temple. His lip was also cut, and there was a swelling over his ear and his right ankle was swollen. Frederick Hadfield said that on the 14th September he had gone to the beach on business. He saw Dunn and Hall together about 150 yards distant from where he stood. Saw Dunn pick up his nets and take them to his whare. Immediately afterwards Hall called out to witness and asked him to accompany him to Dunn’s whare. When they arrived there Hall asked Dunn to repeat the words he had used. Dunn said : “ You’ve been looking for this and you'll get it,” and struck Hall, knocking him down. He also kicked him while oh the ground. He did not hear any threatening language used. For the defence, Dunn said that he would like to call witnesses to prove that Hall had threatened his life. He called William Young, who said that he did not - hear Hall threaten defendant at any time. Defendant said that be had witnesses to prove that he had been threatened, but they were not present. He had been unable to get them to attend as he had no money. He made the following statement: That at the last sitting of the Magistrate’s Court he had given evidence in a whitebait net case, and at the conclusion of the case Hall had threatened to do for him when he got him on the beach. He intended laying an information against him, but up to the present had not had sufficient money. On the 14th inst, when Hall said he was going to take the net, witness asked him to measure it. He then threatened to shoot him, so witness, to save any trouble, went away to his whare. Hall then came to his whare and repeated the threat, and witness, fearing that he had firearms, struck him. Witness asked for leniency, and to ■take into consideration that he had been threatened by Hall. • The Justices said that a serious assault had been committed, and

sentenced defendant to one month’s imprisonment in the Palmerston prison.