CAVE-MAN METHODS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 459, 14 September 1928, Page 1

CAVE-MAN METHODS

EX-N.Z. CRICKETER FINED TRIED TO DRAG WOMAN INTO TAXI Failure to induce a woman to return to him led Henry James Tattersall, an ex-New Zealand representative cricketer, to use forcible and less conventional methods. On September 6, shortly after 10 p.m., Tattersall and Edward T. Stacey, a taxi-driver, rushed up to a party of women and attempted to carry the one they were seeking off in a car. TN the Onehunga Police Court this morning, before Messrs. J. E. Green, J.P., and J. E. Cowen, J.P., Tattersall pleaded guilty to charges of assault and using obscene language. Stacey pleaded not guiyt to an assault charge. Sergeant Cruickshank said that Tattersal and the complainant, Mrs. A. J. Halkett, had been living together as man and wife in Wellington for the past three and a-half years. Because of Tattersall’s drinking, Mrs. Halkett left him and came to stay with friends in Onehunga. He followed* and, as Mrs. Halkett and three women friends were returning from the pictures on September 6, Tattersall and Stacey rushed up, pushed the other women aside, and attempted to drag complainant into a taxi«-cab. The screams and shouts of the women attracted two young men, who succeeded in driving the assailants off. Tattersall had been warned by the Wellington police to leave Mrs. Halkett alone, but on September 5 he had sent a telegram to her from Wellington, reading: “Why drive me to do things I hate? I cannot live without you. Lovp. Harry.” KNOCKED INTO HEDGE Mrs. E. M. Davidson, in evidence, said that the two men had rushed up from behind and had parted her and hpr friend. Tattersall struck her and knocked her into a hedge. He put his fist on Mrs. Halkett’s throat, and, with the assistance of Stacey, dragged her toward the car. Then she heard Stacey say to Tattersall: “You bring her along, and I’ll start up the car.” Other witnesses gave corroborative evidence.

Stacey, in his evidence, said that Tattersall, when engaging him, said hg wanted to pick up his wife, who was being detained by other women. They drove to a house in Victoria Street, Onehunga. He went round the back, while Tattersall kpocked at the front door. Finding the house unoccupied, they returned to the theatre, where they waited until the performance was over. They followed the women, but he denied having put his hands on any of the women. When Tattersall said: “Get hold of her by the legs,” he refused. “VERY DECENT FELLOW” Mr. Snedden, fos Tattersal, said he had gone with accused to Australia with a New Zealand cricket team. Tattersall had been a “very decent fellow.” but became extremely objectionable when he had a few drinks in. Mr. Snedden pleaded for leniency as Tattersall had been locked up for eight days, and was now regretting his action. Mr. Bagnall, for Mrs. Halkett, asked that Tattersall should be bound over to keep the peace. Tattersall was fined £ 5 for assault, and bound over in two sureties of £25 each to keep the peach for a year. Stacey was fined £2 for assault.