GUARD ASSAULTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1953, 18 March 1919, Page 3

GUARD ASSAULTED.

ON FONT ON TRAIN. OFFENDER CONVICTED. At the local police court this morning, before Alessrs J. Chrystall and T. Dimmer, J’s.E., William Boyle was charged that on March 17th, in a railway carriage travelling between Palmerston North and Foxton, he did wilfully assault Alfred Crowe by striking him on the face with his clenched list. Accused pleaded not guilty, j-, Alfred Crowe, railway guard, stated that after leaving Palmerston North last night lie went through i£ hc train to inspect the tickets. ‘ABoyle was in a second-class smoker. AVhen approached for his ticket, accused said he did not have one. Witness made out a ticket, and handed it to Boyle, who said he would not pay for it. Witness left the ticket with accused, and com- • vpletcd his inspection of tickets, and then returned and asked Boyle it lie was going to pay for his ticket. Boyle looked at the ticket, and said, “It’s three and a penny, 1 ’ AVitness told him that was (he single fare, plus tine for not having a ticket. AVhen witness had his face turned away, accused said “ you! I’m not going to pay for it,’’ and struck witness on the face. On arrival ip Foxton, witness informed the police and the staiionmaster. To the Bench: It was not usual to leave a ticket with a passenger if it was not paid for, but witness noticed that accused had been drinking, and thought that if he left him alone for a little Avhilc he might quieten down and pay up without any trouble. Harold Hamer, returned soldier, stated that he was travelling in the same carriage as accused. He heard a little bit of an argument between the guard and Boyle in reference to payment for a ticket, and saw Boyle strike Crowe in the face. When struck Crowe had his face turned away from the accused. To the accused; Was quite sure it was accused that struck the guard. He could not possible be mistaken. AVilliam Boyle, in evidence, stated that as far as striking the guard was concerned he didn’t remember anything about it. He bought a ticket from Crowe, and objected to paying for it, as he considered he was being overcharged, and asked that the questin of payment he left over until they got to Foxton. He had absolutely no recollection of striking him, and would swear that he did not strike him. It was possible that with the motion of the train he may have bumped into him. : He had had some drink, but would not say that he was drunk, or tlmti he was sober. He bad probably 'had a drop too much. It was quite probable that if he had had no liquor he would not have argued about the ticket. He did not pay for the ticket until lie reached Foxton. To the-police; Had been in the Gisborne district for some years, jiiul bad never previously been before the Court for assault. The Justices convicted accused, and inflicted a fine of £2 10s od, with <• ost«