OLD FRIENDS FALL OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 1

OLD FRIENDS FALL OUT

HERNE RAY STABBING AFFRAY SEQUEL BROOKS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL FOR God’s sake hold him—the man’s mad.” When Eric James Bouvaird, in response to a woman's cries for help, rushed inside 72 Wanganui Avenue, Herne Bay, at 7 p.m. on August 22, he found Alexander Percy Cuthbert Bentley bleeding from a wound in the neck, and pinning - to the floor with his knees Herbert Marshall Brooks, whose face had been battered with blows. Bentley was calling for assistance.

story of the affray was told in the Police Court to-day, when Brooks was charged with wounding Bentley on August 22, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. BROOKS-BENTLEY ACADEMY Bentley, in evidence, said that he was a dancing instructor, and in conjunction with accused’s wife, Mrs. Violet Brooks, he conducted the Parisian Dancing Academy at Winstone’s Buildings, Queen Street. He had been so associated with Mrs. Brooks for the past two years. Witness said that Brooks was a personal friend of his, and they were like brothers to each other. Brooks assisted at the dancing studio. Being a frequent visitor to the Brooks home, Bentley said he spent Sunday, August 21, there, playing chess with Brooks, whose wife was in bed suffering from influenza. About six o'clock the next evening witness called again, and Mrs. Brooks was still in bed. He and Brooks had a meal together in the kitchen, and shortly before seven o’clock Mrs. Brooks rose from her bed and passed to the living-room, where she sat before the fire. Chief-Detective Cummings; Did you say anything about Mrs. Erooks putting on more apparel? Witness: I remarked that she should put a coat on in case of a chill. The Chief-Detective: Did you hear Brooks say that he could look after his wife? Witness; I heard nothing of that. TOO MUCH RUM Continuing his story, Bentley said that he went into the kitchen, where Brooks was clearing away the dishes. Brooks was not sober, having drunk a quantity of rum, and Mrs. Brooks appeared to be nervous of his intoxication. Brooks had a bread-knife in one hand and a plate in the other. The Chief-Detective: Did you see a pocket-knife there? Witness: I don’t recollect seeing one. Mr. Currfmings: Look here, Mr. Bentley, I want you to tell the truth, or the court will deal with you. Witness: I am telling the truth. Bentley went on to say that he reprimanded Brooks for drinking too much rum, and then Brooks began to gesticulate, and waved the knife and plate. THE STRUGGLE BEGINS “I then pulled the knife from his hand,” said Bentley, “and in doing so I broke the point of the knife. “In his mood, Brooks must have thought I was trying to hit him, and the result was a bit of a scuffle. “We both fell to the floor, and in about five seconds I was sitting on Brooks’s chest. He was very violent, and while we were on the floor I must have received the wound in the neck.

“Willie I was sitting on Brooks I noticed that blood was dripping from me on to him.”

Mr. Cummings: Did Brooks say anything to you? Witness: I don’t remember. In reply to the chief detective’s question Bentley said that Brooas had visited him while he was in hospital from August 22 until August 29. Dr. L. K. Crow, of the Auckland Hospital staff, said that Bentley was bleeding profusely when admitted to the institution. There was a deep, clean-cut wound in the nape of his neck about four inches long. The large artery had not been cut, but branch arteries had been severed, and the wound would probably have been dangerous had It not been attended to immediately.

MRS. BROOKS’S CALL FOR HELP Eric James Bouvaird, an electrician, said that he heard Mrs. Brooks calling for help and when he went inside the house he saw Bentley holding Brooks down with his knees. Bentley was holding axcused’s right hand with his left, and his right hand was covering the wound in his neck. Bentley said to him: “For God’s sake hold him—the man’s mad.’’ Norman Alexander Williams, aged 15, who also went into the house, said that Bentley told him that Brooks was trying to kill him. He heard Mrs. Brooks ask Bentley where the other part of the knife was,

and Bentley replied that it might still be in the back of his neck. “THERE’S BEEN NO TROUBLE” Thomas Edward Avery, advertising agent, who also answered the summons for help, said he found ’a piece of knife blade about three inches long between the living room and pantry. Detective O’Sullivan said that he called on the accused about 9.15 p.m. On entering the house he found the accused in the bathroom dressed in singlet and trousers wiping the bathroom floor.

Witness asked Brooks what the trouble had been, and accused replied that there had been no trouble. When asked how he got his injuries Brooks said that he had stumbled over a carpet and struck a door. » There was a blood-stained shirt and i aglet in water in the bath. A bloodstained pillow was also in the bath. When taxed with wounding Bentley, Brooks denied knowing anything about it. On the door leading from the living-room to the kitchen there was a long scratch, which could have been made by the knife. Detective-Sergeant O’Brien gave similar evidence as to the bloodstains and mark on the door. This scar on the woodwork was probably the cause of the breaking of the knife. A request that the charge against Brooks be reduced t 9 one of common assault was made by Mr. J. F. W. Dickson. He pointed out that Bentley’s wound was merely superficial and was not as serious as first believed. “This is one of those cases not within the jurisdiction of a magistrate to reduce,” remarked Mr. F. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Accused reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail of £IOO was allowed as before.