"STAB IN BACK"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 256, 21 June 1932, Page 5

"STAB IN BACK"

friends in court BUS DRIVER CHARGED with ASSAULT UPON STOREKEEPER. CONTRADICTORY STORIES When C. J. Francis was • refused his transport license for the Rotorua — Okere bus service he felt that Kadar Mia, the Indian storekeeper at Mourea had not lived up to his professions of friendship. While- expressing his sympathies with Francis, he rode into town in the Rotorua Bus Co.'s 'vehicle and added to this act, as further breach of allegiance, by purchasing a season ticket from the company. On the evening of May 30, when Francis deliver'ed his passengers at Mourea, h.e dgcided to have a heart to hear,t- t^lk with Mia, and therefore called him out of the store. In the course of the con1 versation which followed it was alleged that Francis made remarks about the dusky hue of the Indian's countenance and applied to him a name which, notwithstanding the fiexibility of its usage, threw certain doubts upon his antecedents. Words 'ed to blows and Francis appeared before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., yesterday charged with assault. The complainant, ICadar Mia, told the court that Frances calle-d him out of his bedroom, accused him of assisting the Bus Co., and struck him on the face several tiAies. There was no reason for the assault. Francis owed him £4, but he had never asked for it. Rata, a Maori with Francis, had called him a bad man. Blow Deriied. To Mr. E. Roe, who appeared for "he defence, Mia denied attempting •■o hit Francis and beeoming angry ibout the £4. Neither did he bring Rata the Maori. into his sto^e and nromise him monev if he would giveevidence on his (Mia's) behalf. Oswald Grant came out of the store and tried to pull Francis off, but did not attempt to strike him. Oswald Grant, who was in thestore at the time, said Francis abused Mia, who did nothing to provoke him. Neither he nor Mia ~U*uck Francis. He denied offering Rata money to give evidence on their fide. Mr. Roe said the defence was that Kadar Mia had lost his temper over Lhe £4 owing and struck Francis in -he mouth. If Francis struck Mia, ;he assault was either provoked or lustified in self-defense. Fx*ancis declared that when he called Mia out he simply asked him why he had "stabbed him in the back before the licensing authoritv" and Laken out a season ticket with the Bus Co. Mia lost his temper and "truck him in the mouth and he defended himself. Others crowded "onnd and Rata came to his assistrnce, and the affair ended. Ernest Nimmo, a bus passenger, -aid he saw Francis struck oU the mouth, and Rata Taiatini also said be saw the Indian strike defendant. The magistrate expressed the opin:on that Francis meant to pick a quarrel and said he was not satisfied with his or his witnesseis' evidence. The aggression was not justified. He would he convicted and ordered to pay costs. Rata Taiatini, charged with threatening behaviour, was treated in the same way. -~