"WELL, WIRE-WHISKERS!"

NZ Truth, Issue 1187, 30 August 1928, Page 2

"WELL, WIRE-WHISKERS!"

Bed Young Ideas

Pulled His Nose!

Ex-Boxer Takes On Old Man Who Stole His Girl - (From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Representative.) Supposing you had captured the affections of a dainty maiden, with just sufficient Maori blood running m her veins to lend passion to her affection and piquancy to her temperament; what would you do if a " wire- whiskered" gent, old enough to be her father, and nearly old enough to be her grandfather, start cd 1 running her round Jn his motor-car?

OF .course, if he were the sort of benevolent old chap who takes girls for rides for the benefit' of the fresh air, it might ,pass at a pinch, but, well, anyway, this' is not a health culture treatise. This was the basis of the little episode that brought Clai'ence Desmond Lawless, once a well-known amateur boxer, back into the public gaze. His alleged rival m love, Robert Williamson — "wire- whiskers," ( according to Desmond — conducts a store at Manutuke, a Maori village a few miles from Gisborne. There was no hope of the pair being matched, under Marquis of Queensbury rules, for Williamson, whose age was not revealed, would hardly pass the doctor for a he-man encounter, while Desmond would find the utmost difficulty m removing his superfluous avoirdupois at short notice. So Desmond just vented his wrath m a most unbecoming and, according to the court, unjust manner. Part of the story was told when that young man appeared before Magistrate Levvey to answer an assault charge, but the impression was created that there was much that was untold. There are two sides to the story, as is usually the case. The police version was given first, and a black picture it certainly painted for Desmond. According to Senior-sergeant Mac Lean, old man Williamson had, been sitting m his car at about midnight waiting for some passengers when Lawless, without provocation, came up and struck him two such heavy blows that he had to see a doctor. "A man who claims to be a bit of a boxer, but who prefers to fight with old men whom he can beat easily," was the police officer's description of the young man who once won a degree of fistic fame. Evidence, of his punching ability was given by Dr. Harold Angell, who said that Williamson, two days after the assault, was suffering from a bruise over the eye, a cut upper lip, and a bruise ' on the roof of his mouth; It transpired that He hadn't swallowed Lawless' fist, however-, but the knock had connected -with the previous handiwork of his dentist. Lawyer. Stan. Beaufoy, who seconded Lawless, opened his attack with a touch of unconscious humor. "The marks on his face were consistent with Williamson having had his nose pulled?" he asked as if he were merely stating a fact, and was promptly assured that the variety of marks was not consistent with ' such a . procedure. Williamson described himself as a taxi-driver and storekeeper, ' and told briefly of the assault, for which he had given no provocation. To Lawyer Beaufoy, he admitted that he was aware that Lawless "kept company" with a young quarter-caste Maori girl. You had some trouble with this young woman? — Yes. And Lawless told you to keep away from her? — Yes. And warned you not to interfere with her? — I never ' interfered, with her. You paid over some money to square an assault on her? — I did not. Lawless told you not to take her m your car? — Yes. And you disregarded the warning. You have taken her out since?— -Yes. You did not charge her for these trips? — Sometimes she paid and sometimes she didn't. . . You took her to the Ruatoria races? Yes. ' • ' Did -you charge her? — That's my business. . At this stage the magistrate interrupted to remark that it didn't matter whether Williamson took the girl out m his car or not. The thing- was

whether or not co,unsel could show that there was sufficient provocation for the assault. Lawyer Beaufoy: On your way to Ruatoria you stayed at Tolaga Bay? — Yes. And registered at the hotel as Mr. and Mrs. Williamson? — No. Questioned regarding the night of the assault, Williamson admitted that he had parked his car outside Lysnar's buildings, where Lawless had rooms, but he denied that he made a habit of pulling up there , and causing an annoyance by blowing- his horn. He had merely gone there to wait for his passengers who were at a dance. Lawyer Beaufoy: Did you go to N a dance-hall and ask for "Mrs. Lawless?" — I may have. Didn't you know that a thing like that would annoy Lawless? — No. She is more often called "Mrs." than "Miss." But you know she isn't married. Did you want to make Lawless angry? — No. The senior-sergeant: Lawless and this girl live together and are looked upon as man and wife? — Yes. Two Maori boys who were m Williamson's car corroborated the evidence of the assault. Lawyer Beaufoy, for the defence, said Williamson ' had ignored Lawless" warning and taken the girl out m his car on a number of occasions. On the night m question he had pai'ked his car outside Lawless' rooms and blown his horn for a quarter of an hour, simply to annoy Lawless. "Williamson," said counsel, "only got. vttiat was coming to him." '■'' " .-:". "'The magistrate: where is the law to support that suggestion,? Is any rival for this girl liable to be assaulted? You don't seriously suggest that is an excuse, do you? According to Lawless, he had tolerated the noise of Williamson's horn as long as he could, and then dressed and went down and asked: "What ,d.o you want, wirewhiskers?" Williamson replied that he wais waiting for a Maori girl, who was under 16. years of: age,: but Lawless accused him of being after the other girl. After some argument he pulled Williamson's nose, and there was a bit of a tussle. .'.-... The senior- sergeant: You think you are a bit of a boxer? — I have been an amateur boxer. And a beautiful specimen of a man you are, to go out and box an old man. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? — He should be ashamed of himself running round with girls under 16. You are one of the bullies of the East Coast? — I don't think so. Well, you have the reputation of being a drunken bully? — I don't know where you get your information from. Ask 1 the police. They'll tell you. You've assaulted a man since this? — I held a man for two hours to prevent him hitting a smaller man, if that's what you mean. So you are a peacemaker as well as a correcter of morals? You chastise an old man . for running round with young girls. Are you proud of yourself? — Neither proud nor ashamed. Lawless concluded by alleging that the Maori witnesses had been bribed by Williamson, and when warned of the seriousness of this allegation said he had learned that Williamson had given them money and free rides. , "If this guileless young man wants to act as censor of morals there is a way for him to do it,". commented the magistrate. "If he wants to stop a man blowing his horn m the street, there is a way to do that also. But if he thinks he is going to quarrel with any man over a girl and assault him he is going to learn a lesson." Desmond must pay a purse of £10 'within 10 days.