DID NOT RING TRUE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 814, 7 November 1929, Page 7

DID NOT RING TRUE

STORY OF ASSAULT DISPUTE ABOUT FENCE from Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Wednesday. Neighbours at Matangi aired their „ievanees in the Hamilton Police Court today, when Harry Roland Hbeau was charged with assaulting Charles Edward Bird. Bird said he met defendant and lii3 brother. Albert Libeau. and there was an argument as to who should repair a fence damaged by a bull. Albert held him while Harry struck him with jome heavy instrument. Later he found a pair of pliers on the ground. The Libeau and Bird families had not been on good terms for some years. Dr. T. C. Fraser said he attended Bird on October 14 for severe lacerations and bruises about the face. It was highly improbable that the blows Bird bad received were done by the jst. It was more likely a blunt instrument was used. A statement signed by Harry Libeau was produced by Constable Aplin. In it Libeau alleged that Bird approached him on the day of the fight in a threatening attitude, and invited him to fight. Bird attempted to strike him several times, but missed. Libeau said he struck Bird several times over the e ve with his closed fist. The pliers were not used, and his brother took no part ill the flgln. Defendant stated that Bird was aggressive from the moment they met, and invited him to tight. Albert Libeau supported his bro tier's story. "Bird's story did not ring true when be was telling if. and I think his veraion of what occurred was an improb»hle one,” said the magistrate. He thought accused's story was more correct. He did not think there was anv assault, and certainly not with the "murderous weapon” produced. The information was dismissed.