HUNTERVILLE ASSAULT CASE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 150, 27 February 1915, Page 5

HUNTERVILLE ASSAULT CASE

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) HUNTERVILLE, Friday. General interest was evinced in the sequel, which eventuated to-day, to what has been referred to as " The Huntcrville Sensation." A disturbance at a local hotel on the night of the 17th Inst., when a sports meeting was held at Hunterville, resulted in Mat thlaw McKinnon; of Hunterville, and Matthew Wilson of Taihape, being placed before Messrs J Bull and W. Howie, J.'s P., at the Court this motiving on charges of a serious nature.

The first indictment was against Wilson of assaulting John Butlpr and McKinnon was charged with aiding and abetting the assault.

Both accused pleaded not guilty.and were defended bv Mr. Mac Lean.

Constable Gray conducted the prosp cution.

John Butler, sixty years of age, a labourer, slated he occupied a room in the Hunterville Hotel on thp night of the sports meeting. Two men, identified as accused, came into his room. McKinnon asked for a match. Witness, wh© was in. bJ3d, got up and gave him one froin : a pocketjin .'his coat. McKinnon then said'he have a bed. Witness, said he*oouin share his bed. After a white Wilson •'turned in" with witness. Wilson started skylarking ind twisted witness' arm and hurt him. He did not think Wilson meant to hurt him. Wilson also put a strangle hold on to witness. Next morning witness had a severe pain in his shoulder and his thumb and hand were also, affected. In cross examination Butler said he did not call out wh]?n Wilson hurt him, as he did not think Wlison intended to injure him. Wilson was dressed and McKinnon tried to pet him to go out. There' was no talk about wrestling holds, and witness did not tell Wilson that bje knew something about wrestling. Witness did not demonstrate any wrestling holds but he did take hold o fWilson to prevent him hurting him again. He did not complain to Wilson of being hurt.

Dr Smith said that he had examined But for en the morning of the ISth. He was in bed and complained of a pain at the top of his spinal column and the muscles at the back of the neck were very tender. His thumb was also swollen. ■* Constable Grey stated that the licensee of the hotel telephoned to witness who pointed out Butler's condition. Butler complained of having been assaulted during the night. Mr Mac Lean asked that both charges be dismissed. Theite was not a tittle of evidencja against McKinnon, and as far as Wils.cn was concerned it was just a case of "skylarking." The Bench expressed a desire to hear the accused.

Matthew Wilson stated he was look, ing for a bed with McKinnon. They did net have a match and both went into Butler's room to get one. By the Bjench: Did you have a room? Wilson: Yes. The Bench: Then why did you turn into bed with Butler? No answer.

Matthew McKinnon said that he had asked for a room but did not g<at the number. The licensee was not sure that he would be able to accommodate witness. They wfcrc in Butler's room about ten minutes. Wilson did not appear to have hurt Butler. Constable Grey stated that he had examined the b'lel and McKinnon was down as having a room that night. By the Bench to McKinnon: Why didn't you get the number of your room when you entered the hotel with Wilson? Witness: There was nobody about. After an adjournment, the Bench returned. Tfcfay were not satisfied with accused's versions. They had no right in Butler's room. All assault had been committed and both were ibied £2.

Mr Bull remarked upon Wilson's conduct in wrestling with a man of Butter's age. The second charges of assaulting and robbing Robert Mac Lean were then preferred against Wilson and McKinncn. Both pleadiad not guilty.

Robert Mac Lean labourer, of Hunterville, said he was 68 years of age. On the night of the sports he occupied a room at the Hotel. He retired about 8 o'clock and some time later accused McKinnon came into his room. Wilson stood at the door near the corridor. Therja was a light in the corridor but none in his room. McKinnon caught witness" foot and gave it a severe twist. Witness jumped up and asked "In the nam|3 of C , are you going to screw my foot off altogether." McKinnon then pulled witness' trousers off. He threw them cut of this room into the corridor. There was about 30s in silver in one of the pockets. The trousers were thrown back into the room a few minutes later. Before witness went to bed he concealed £4 between his shirt and flannel. Witness put his trousers on when they weijs thrown into the room. The pockets then contained a threepenny piece, a oo'pper and a halfpenny. Witness did not alarm the household as his previous cry when his leg was twisted brought no response. He immediately reported the mattjar to the police. He had £6 19s 6d on him on the morning of the sports.

By Mr Mac Lean: There were two beds in the room. He did not attend

Mjcrts tart was in company ct a the . m day u.ul had a drmkb, :'Hend u.. -ijvh to '>o.i him !■"• m<-h>. hut not eno. "-avnis been TPiused He admitted « Hotel. Before drink st the Arg}.. or. tub bunk gcing to sleep he lay had often with his clothes en. He -ndrcsadone ?c before but he usually i. >e ed before going to bod. lie de ; . the suggestion that he was too drunk to undress. He was asleep when McKinuon came into the room. The door was cloyed but not locked. McKinacn

twisted his foot and woke hin: up. This was probably after 11 p.m. He had not slept en the floor during the night. He did not miss the money till ,ie had put his trousers on again. He lid this in order to onable him tc go o the police to report two men havig come into his room and dragging •im out of bed. He did not then comdain to the landlord as there was no jody about. Wilson and McKinnon vere in the room about five, minutes. Witness complained to the landlord as scon as he saw him next morning. Re-examined: When McKinnon twisted his feet he was dragged on to tin* floor.

Without waiting to hear the evidence of Corrstable Essen, who arrestad McKinnon, and'" COnstahjle Gray, ; , th£ Bench dismissed the charges and*' 1 "' the Court was adjcurned,.til4 ; *nexf l anybody had realised the unusual and unexpectedly premature decision which had been arrived at.