ASSAULT WITH VIOLENCE.

Shannon News, 12 November 1926, Page 3

ASSAULT WITH VIOLENCE.

THE MIRANUI MARAUDER. At the ' Palmerston Supreme Court, Net's Peter Sorenson Hansen pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with intent, to rob, assault with intent to cause actual bodily harm, and also with common assault. The charges arose out of the attack cn Meredith Fit/.simons, wlio was violently assaulted by -. masked man while.lying down in his bedroom. - Meredith Fitzsimons told how a ntan entered- his hut after dark with, the greeting: “I’m after your money, Fitz„; I have a revolver and I’ll shoot you.” Witness closed with the man, who struck him a-severe blow < n the head jvith a “sandbag:” composed of a handkerchief in which were tied a number of stones, ’ which were scattered over the bed. He cried out and the man ran off. It was’ too dark to identify the man. Witness was questioned at length 1 regarding- accused’s relations with other employees at the camp. Other evidence in support of the charge was* given.. In a statement from the dock, accused said lie-was in Shannon at the time/ of the assault and decided to call at the camp to collect, seme gear. -He visired Fitzsimons and asked him for .the return of 5s which the other owed him. Fitzsimons’s reply was to'strike .him and accused cleared out. He. had no knowledge of the stones or handkerchief found in the hut. During the time he had been working at the camp he was making from 33s to £2 a day, about 13s more .than- the others, and had been threatened that he must leave the Manawatu. : , ' '

The jury retired at 2.55 and returned at 1.15 with a verdict of guilty- J on the first count and prisoner'was remanded for sentence. ;