ENRAGED WAHINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 12

ENRAGED WAHINE

SLAPS MAN’S FACE OBJECTS TO INSULTS “Pie should have gone on his way, instead of which he crossed the road, and provoked me by calling my husband a black mongrel. I demanded an apology, protesting that I was not the mother of a black mongrel’s children. He refused, so I smacked his face.” Such was the defence offered by Rona Kirkwood, a Maori, who was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting William Preston, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, at Onehunga this morning. Preston was also called up on similar charges concerning Mrs. Kirkwood, but he failed to appear until just upon the conclusion of the case. The circumstances were that the parties had previously been concerned in litigation in the police court, after which Mrs. Kirkwood’s husband, also a Maori, approached Preston, and offered to shake hands, and make peace. Preston declined, and used the offensive epithet which caused Kirkwood’s wife to “take up the running,” knocking his (Preston’s) hat off, sending his cigarette whizzing into the roadway, and finally slapping him solidly across the face as he was temporarily blinded. He retaliated by striking her under the chin with his hand. Mrs. Kirkwood told her tale amid tears, and (in good English language), admitted defending her husband against such a vile imputation cast upon her offspring. The husband said he saw his wife settling her Quarrel, so he went straight away and informed the police.” Just as his Worship was about to pronounce his decision, Preston arrived and gave his version of the affair. He declared that the woman clutched at his coat, gripped his hand, and threatened to bit off his fingers Noticing that she had a fine set of teeth he jerked his hand away, and returned her slap under the chin. Mr. Poynton maintained that it was Preston’s duty to accept the husband’s proffered action for peace. He had no right to strike the woman simply because she upheld her husband’s position. Mrs. Kirkwood was merely convicted and discharged, upon the charge of assault. On each side the charges of disorderly conduct would be dismissed; but for committing the assault upon the woman, Preston would be fined £3, and 80s costs, £ 1 of the sum to be paid to Mrs. Kirkwood.