MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 243, 11 September 1940, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

ALLEGATION OF ASSAULT. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, berore Mr K. M. Watson, (S.M., an information alleging assault was laid by Leslie St. George Gorton, of Awah uri Road, Eeildmg, against Jonathan Adams, also of Awahuri 1 Road, farmer. The informant alleged that at Lee’s Line, on August 27, Adams assaulted him by punching him in the face. Dr. Salmond gave evidence to the effect that he had examined Gorton two days after the assault and found bruises .and abrasions on his face consistent with his having been punched on the face several times. Informant gave evidence that at about 5.30 p.m. on August 27 he was walking towards Lee’s Line, pushing his bicycle and carrying a haversack, and wearing an overcoat. He was accosted by Adams, who adopted a threatening attitude and seemed to have a grievance that Gorton had been the cause of a dog belonging to Adams having been poisoned some months previously. Gorton denied having anything to do with the incident, and alleged that Adams struck at him. He then placed his bicycle on the ground so as to defend himself and it was then that Adams struck him several times in the face. He hit out to defend himself, but whether' or not he hit Adams lie could not say. He gave evidence tliatsabout six weeks previously Adams had met him on Lee’s Line and had threatened him on that occasion. He had brought the present proceedings for fear lest Adams might molest him again.

Defendant, giving evidence, denied that he had assaulted Gorton or that he had threatened him as informant alleged. He considered that he had a grievance in regard to a of his, which he alleged had been poisoned, and had also a grievance because someone was in the Habit of shooting with a pea rifle in the locality, although lie could not swear' that it was Gorton. He denied that he struck Gorton, hut, on cross-examination, said ho could not account for the fact that Gorton’s face bore the injuries of which the doctor had given evidence. The Magistrate convicted defendant and ordered him to pay witness’s expenses £1 Is and solicitor’s fee £1 Is. Defendant was bound over in . £lO in his recognisance to keep the peace, especially towards Gorton, for a period of one year.

Mr J. Graham appeared for complainant and Mr D. C. Cullinane for defendant.