GAOL FOR BULLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 659, 10 May 1929, Page 1

GAOL FOR BULLY

MAGISTRATE HAD SEEN TAIT BEFORE STORY NOT BELIEVED “I believe that complainant was telling the truth. Tait is nothing but a bully, and he is Sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. If 1 could give him more \ would.” So commented Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. convicting James Tait, who appeared on summons at the Police Court this morning on a charge of assaulting Awa Randall. Mr. R. A. Singer ap peared for Tate, who had already pleaded not guilty. Awa Randall, whose evidence was taken some days ago, complained that Tait had made an unprovoked attack on him. He, Tait, and a man named Brimble had been drinking in an hotel j part of the afternoon and they had | also made one or two trips in Brimble’s | car. Eventually witness had been motored home, and it was after leav- ; ing the car that Tait had attacked him from behind, felling him to the j ground. Evidence of the actual 1 sault was also given by witness’s wife, j This morning Mr. Singer gave it as his opinion that a large amount of liquor had been consumed. Randall f had borrowed money from Tait, and the three men had motored to rtandall’s home so that he could repay the amount. Counsel said that Randall had refused to pay the money and Tait had told him, without mincing words, what he thought of him. Randall had then struck out at Tait as he was sitting in the car. “Tait’s action was merely a reprisal for an unprovoked attack,” counsel asserted. Put in the box by Mr. Singer, Tait told his story of the episode. He said

that he had pushed Randall with his open hand, but that the man was under the influence of liquor and had fallen to the ground. Chief-Detective Hammond said that : Tait used to be a taxi-driver. He had been before the Court on other occasions. “There is no need for you to tell me anything about Tait/* remarked the magistrate. “X have seen him before.”