COWARDLY ASSAULT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 1

COWARDLY ASSAULT

“UNMERCIFUL BLOWS” TWO MEN FINED £lO Involved in what was described at the Police Court this morning as a most cowardly assault, two young men who attacked the keeper of a public convenience in Newton two weeks ago, were fined £lO each. James Patrick Osgood Carroll, a labourer aged 27, and Charles Frank Dodds, a polisher, aged 22, were charged with assaulting John Craig. Mr. M. M. Flynn pleaded guilty for Dodds, and Mr. C. A. Snedden, though at first denying Carroll’s guilt, after hearing the evidence of complainant, changed his plea to one of guilty. There were five men concerned in the fracas, according to Mr. Craig, who said that he had been injured to such an extent that he had been unable to work for two weeks and was still under the care of a doctor. “On March 9 early in the evening I had to caution five men who were singing and making a noise,” said Mr. Craig. “I told them to be quiet, and they went away. Later they returned and punched me and knocked me about. Carroll was the worst of tne crowd and his blows were unmerciful. The two men in the dock did most of the punching, while their cowardly comrades urged them on.” Witness said that two other men came to his assistance and the band made off. “I saw Carroll running for all he was worth down Beresford Street,” he concluded. Complainant’s story was corroborated by Frank W'illiam Lucas, who was one of the men to come to his assistance. Witness identified both men. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady read out Carroll’s list, which included convictions on charges of theft, assault and vagrancy. There was nothing known against Dodds. “I quite agree that this was an unprovoked assault on a man much older than his attackers,” commented Air. F. K. Hunt, S.M. “These men should really go to gaol. What is Carroll doing?” Mr. Snedden: Tie is a wharf labourer. a married man. Both men were fined £lO, half of the fines to go to the complainant. Costs, £ 3 10s, were divided.