SEQUEL TO ASSAULT ON BAILIFF

Southland Times, Issue 24236, 20 September 1940, Page 6

SEQUEL TO ASSAULT ON BAILIFF

YOUTH SENTENCED TO DETENTION FOR YEAR (United Press Association) HAMILTON, September 19. The sequel to the serving of a summons of a Te Rapa resident, when the bailiff was violently attacked by the resident’s sons, was heard in the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton when charges of assault were preferred against Leonard Vincent Windsor Brown, aged 19, and Robert Alexander Wilson Brown, aged 18. The bailiff, Michael McCormack, stated that when he called to serve the summons Leonard Brown ordered him off the property and then he was knocked down and attacked by the two accused and an elder brother. After a scuffle he freed himself and summoned the police, but he received injuries which necessitated his admission to hospital for nearly five weeks. Leonard Brown admitted the offence, but the younger brother denied having taken any part in the scuffle, a statement which was supported in evidence by the third brother. The Magistrate (Mr S. L. Paterson) declined to accept this version, stating that he considered the evidence was blatant perjury; in fact, the third brother was fortunate that he was not charged with assault. He viewed the case very seriously and because of that and also to impose a deterrent penalty on Leonard Brown he would have to be severe. He imposed a sentence of detention in a Borstal institution not exceeding a year on Leonard Brown, while Robert Brown was ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months if called, with the provision that he would not be required to appear if he reported to the police weekly.