OFFICIAL ASSAULTED

Southland Times, Issue 20082, 20 January 1927, Page 9

OFFICIAL ASSAULTED

WELFARE OFFICER'S VISIT RESENTED FINE OF £3 INFLICTED. Because he considered, rightly or wrongly, that an ill-advised attempt was being made to break up his home, George Edwin Evans, a farmer and engine-driver of Tussock Creek, showed his resentment in such a way that he appeared in the Police Court yesterday to answer a charge of having assaulted Thomas McCarroll, Child Welfare Officer. Defendant, who was represented by Mr W. A. Stout, pleaded not guilty. Thomas McCarroll, the complainant, said that in pursuance of his duties he visited defendant’s home with Mrs Suckling on November 22. Mrs Evans was the only one at home when he first called. After going to her daughter’s house he returned in the car to the defendant’s home. He was at the gate talking to Mrs Evans when defendant and his sons came along. Evans took off his coat and called out, “I’ll fix a crawler like you.” He then struck witness a blow on the chest, fortunately not very hard. Witness persuaded defendant after considerable talking not to make further trouble. No more blows were struck. Mrs Suckling, who was sitting in the car, saw the whole incident. To Mr Stout: The incident occurred at the gate. Witness was struck across the gate. Mrs Evans then got between her husband and witness to prevent further trouble. To the Magistrate: The reason he called at the home was in consequence of a complaint that the children were not living under proper conditions. Alice Suckling, Lady Welfare Officer, in her evidence corroborated complainant’s statement. Evans had thrown off his coat and had hit McCarroll across the chest. Loud talk then ensued.

Mr Stout, whilst agreeing that, an officer such as Mr McCarroll should be supported by all in the execution of his duty, urged that it was equally important that defendant should not be convicted unless the evidence clearly pointed that way. All the Evans family would deny that McCarroll had been hit. Evans had threatened to throw McCarroll over the fence, but no blow had been struck-

Defendant gave evidence that he had a family of nine, all of whom were at home save one. A message had been brought to him while he was at his engine that McCarroll was at his house. He and his sons left the engine at the foot of a hill and went to the house as fast as they could. He saw McCarroll speaking to his wife at the gate. Witness had his coat off all day and had merely slung it over his shoulder when he left the engine. When he got to the gate he put the coat on the fence. He had not hit complainant. He said something to him about throwing him out if he came crawling round trying to persuade his wife to leave home. He did not see how he could have struck McCarroll as or.p was inside and the other outside the gate. He had not even tried to hit him.

Mrs Evans and two sons gave evidence mainly corroborative of the foregoing. All denied that a blow had been struck, though Mrs Evans admitted she had told her husband not to hit McCarroll as it was not about herself, but a daughter that he had called.

The Magistrate said that he was perfectly satisfied an assault of a kind had been committed. No doubt a complaint had been made more to prevent a repetition of such an indignity being inflicted on a Government officer carrying out his duties. He must show that such things could not take plade.

Defendant would be convicted and fined £3.