Brutal Thrashing

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 599, 27 February 1929, Page 1

Brutal Thrashing

Brother Beaten on Bare Back Folded Stockwhip Draws Blood (From Our Own Correspondent) KAITAIA, To-day. THAT he had thrashed his brother with a doubled stockwhip until he brought blood —so severely, in fact, that the latter was in bed for a week and the marks were visible a month later —was admitted in the Ivaitaia Police Court to-day by Edward Ilowell. of Takaliue: Howell was fined £lO.

“epilK . evidence discloses a very brutal assault,” said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to Howell, who was charged with assaulting his brother Luke by striking him on the back with a stockwhip, and kicking him on the head. The police stated that Luke was not quite right mentally, and had been thrashed to such an extent that he had been in bed for a week, but he was unable to lie on his back. His back had been shown to the police a month after the thrashing and the welts were still visible. A doctor had examined Luke’s back and had expressed the opinion that a severe thrashing had been administered. For the defence it was stated that the father was dead and accused had been bringing up the family. Another brother was mental and accused con-

sidered he had to keep a shai-p eye on Luke. The thrashing, however, had been administered because of repeated thefts from a neighbour’s gar- i den. In evidence accused said that he doubled the lash and the handle together and thrashed his brother’s bare back. "I brought some blood,” he admitted, ‘'but not much.” William C. Kirtlan, farmer, a neighbour of the Howell family, testified to the excellent name held by the accused. Luke had stolen things from the witness's garden, but the latter had never complained as he knew that accused was sensitive about the family name. “If I may suggest so,” said the witness. “it would be a measure of safety for the public if Luke went to a mental home like his other brother.” The magistrate expressed amazement that anyone could so far forget the code of ordinary kindness, even supposing that he did stand in loco parentis. There was little mitigation, he thought, except the accused’s good character and the fact that he was trying to bring up his brothers and sisters. He had seriously considered gaol, he said, but in view of the good police report of accused's character he would inflict a fine of £lO payable at the rate of £2 10s a month.