RIVALS RECONCILED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 13

RIVALS RECONCILED

NO FURTHER ATTACKS LEAVING THE FIELD CLEAR (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, To-day. When the case was called on in the Magistrate’s Court to-day in which William Wood Dillicar, on a private information, charged Nathaniel Claud Clarke with assaulting him by punching him on the neck and threatening him with a knife, it was announced that a satisfactory undertaking had been given by the defendant which would probably prove acceptable to the plaintiff, who was seeking assurance that Clarke would not attempt to do him any bodily harm. Mr. D. Seymour, who appeared for the complainant:, intimated to Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., that a certain course had been proposed and he wished to -explain (he reasons for it. It appeared that defendant regarded Dillicar as a rival and took action designed to frighten him away altogether. Counsel was now assured, on behalf of the defendant, that whatever his words and actions defendant did not se.riouslv intend violence. The acquaintanceship of Dillicar with the woman concerned had never involved anything more than mere friendship. Plaintiff recognised that proceeding with the case would probably punish defendant without benefit to anybody and as a satisfactory undertaking had been given regarding the future plaintiff decided not to tender evidence. Mr. J. F. Strang, for the defendant, accepted the coarse suggested and gave an assurance that defendant would not molest complainant again. While defendant’s conduct was not free from censure it resulted from his infatuation for the woman concerned, to whom he, until recently. had engaged to be married. He regarded Dillicar as a rival for the woman s affections and his actions were intended to frighten tlie latter away, but he never intended to carry the tlneats into effect, though Dillicar had reasonable grounds for apprehension. J-coun-sel added that defendant intended at an early date to return to Australia. The magistrate dismissed the charge for want of prosecution.