A FOOTBALLER IN TROUBLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 889, 8 September 1910, Page 2

A FOOTBALLER IN TROUBLE.

ALLEGED ASSAULT. Wellington, September 7. A case which is exciting considerable interest in football circles is being heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when Arthur (“Rangi”) Wilson, the wellknown representative footballer, and a member of the Athletic Club, was called upon to answer a charge that on August 6, during the progress ot the AthleticPoneke match, he did unlawfully asault one Duilio Calcinai so as to cause him actual bodily harm. In his evidence Calcinai stated that in the match between the two teams accused’s brother was “winded.” Witness had no idea of the cause. Later accused charged witness with striking a player named McDonald. Witness replied that he was not aware of having done so. Accused said nothing further. Then one of the Wilsons, either before or after this struck out at witness. Play continued, and witness was walking up-field after the whistle had sounded, when he suddenly felt himself struck a sudden blow from behind. He saw a fist and nothing more. He turned round and saw accused. Nothing was said. He was under the doctor’s treatment for over four weeks. His jaw was broken, and he was not able to eat properly yet. In cross-examination, witness denied striking McDonald, and said it was not a fact that he was remonstrated with lor rough play. If eighteen witnesses, four players, and fourteen spectators, swore that accused was not near him when he was struck, he would still persist in his statement that accused was behind him when he turned round. Medical evidence was given that Calcinai’s lower jaw was broken, and that there was a distinct separation, the lower part sticking up above the other end of the fracture.

Another witness, a member of the Poneke team playing in the match said that as a result of a rush the ball came into Calcinai’s hands. He was collared and thrown. W. Wilson, a brother the accused was in a rush from another direction, and as Calcinai was thrown he (Calcinai) fell backward. His forearm struck W. Wilson on the side of the head. Witness saw W, Wilson stagger and caught hold of him. Accused then came along and said, “Show me the cow that done it, and I’ll smash him.” Witness said, “ What rot; it was as much your man’s fault as ours.” Accused spoke to some of his players, and walked towards Calcinai, at whom he struck. Calcinai dodged the blow, but twenty minutes later he got a blow on the jaw which witness asserted was struck by accused. The case is being continued to-day.