A MIDNIGHT RUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 311, 10 February 1910, Page 8

A MIDNIGHT RUCTION.

AN OLD MAN MAKES A DIS-

TURBANCE,

Nocturnal rows are not frequent in •New Plymouth, but we had one the night before last and in the early hoars of yesterday morning. A middle-aged man named John McCarthy, alias MeArthur, a blind man, who lias been renting a room in a cottage occupied bv Mrs. Bridget Campbell, a widow MS years old, for the past fortnight. While in gaol some years ago he destroyed his eyesight by means of glass splinters and needles, and then accused the prison warders of having done it. On Tuesday morning, it is stated, he assaulted Mr. J. J, Stagpoole, a nephew of Mrs. Campbell, who had called at the cottage to see his aunt. At about 11 o'clock at night McCarthy began to create a loud disturbance. The noise frightened a neighbor, Mrs. D. Berry, who telephoned for the police. C'o'i'staftle Whitehouse arrived on the scone in a few minutes, to find Mrs. Campbell and a woman with whom McCarthy lives, in Hie yard, frightened. The constable told McCarthy who he and advised him to be ijuiet. McCarthy replied by throwing crockery and botties af Hit? constable and (lie woman, ana thcii threw a frying-pan that struck Mrs. Cani;>e!l o;i the lieiv!, inflicting a :.asty wound that b'.ec! prolustij. She had also received some minor injuries. McCarthy then hurrisd into his room, where he barricaded himself. Constable Whitehouse rendered first aid. find ""rt w-ti« i

lor hail d' wr., Campbell's wound, ;iuo wlnch he hail in pM throe stitches, the constables j„ McCarthy'* door. and then, a- I.llc of them put'it, McCarthy wc-il fur i ji,. m fikf a' ti-'.-r! Kit-kin-, sera tolling, biting, McCarthy fought desperately, but was overpowered and handcutied. Ho had to bo practically curried to the police station, fighting and screaming al! the way. Four hours woro occupied troni the time the police woro telephoned for until McCarthy _ was lodged in the cells and •'fixed up" for (he rest o; the ni<;ht, from whfeTi may Tie gathered some id-a of the sfronuousness of the fighting. Yesterday morning McCarthy was brought. up in the Police Court] before Mr. TT. ?. with assaulting Mrs. Campbell and causing her actual bodily harm, and with resist in? the police. Mr. C. Wright appeared for aceusen. On the application of Sergeant Haddroll. accused was remanded until 'Monday morning next tlie Sergeant stating that Mrs. Campbell would not bo able to appear i>nd give evidence for some days at least. Bail was fixed at accused's own recognisance of £IOO and two sureties of £IOO each.

McCarthy will also probably he charged with assaulting Mr. Stagpoole.