FIGHTING FOR UNCLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 575, 30 January 1929, Page 1

FIGHTING FOR UNCLE

LABOURER EXPLAINS ASSAULT £4 FINE IMPOSED Fighting his uncle’s battles landed Thomas Gordon Morning in trouble at the Police Court this morning to the extent of a £4 fine. Moruing, a labourer aged 24, was charged with assaulting Edward ] James Ireson, Mr. Allan Moody eii-! tering a plea of not guilty on his behalf. According to Mr. Ireson, foreman at the Public Works Department camp, Campbells Point, Morning had accosted him while he was putting his bicycle away late yesterday afternoon. Accused struck him and knocked him to the floor. He was dazed and his lip was cut. The assault was quite unprovoked, although later, Morning had said that witness kicked his uncle. Witness picked up a piece of scoria to defend himself, and Morning fled. In answer to Mr. Moody, Mr. Ireson said that he had never kicked the young man's uncle, who was employed in the camp. He had remonstrated with him for drinking heavily and paying insufficient attention to his work. Put in the box by counsel. Morning explained that his uncle had complained of being pulled out of bed and kicked by the foreman. “I went along to have a few words with Ireson,” continued the young avenger. “He abused both my uncle and me, so I struck him." Morning ielt his head and said feelingly that he had a big bump where Ireson had struck him with the Scoria. He had run away dodging a fusillade of stones thrown by the foreman. Mr. Moody urged that there vus provocation, though Morning had behaved unwisely. Mr. TV. R. McKean, S.M., agreed with counsel that Morning had behaved in a reprehensible manner. He did not think, however, that there was any provocation. Morning was lined £4, with witnesses’ expenses £l, in default 14 days’ imprisonment.