A BLIND MAN'S BRAWL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 321, 22 February 1910, Page 7

A BLIND MAN'S BRAWL.

FL'ETIIER PPvUCEKDiXuS. At the Police Court yesterday, the further charges against the blind man John McCarthy, alias MeArthur, adjourned from last Monday, were proceeded with. Sergt. Haddrell prosecuted. Accused was unrepresented by counsel. The first charge was that of .having on 'he K'h ::>'. assaulted .1. J. ■Stagpoole by butting him in the face with his head. Accused pleaded lot guilty and asked that all witnesses »e ordered out of Court.

John Joseph Stagpoolc deposed that on February Sth he went to th tf residence of his aunt. Mrs. Campbell, pi Queen street. When he cot on thv verandah he could hear that accused and Mrs. Campbell were having high words in a room. Mrs. Campbell came out to witness. Accused came out soon after and told Mrs. Campbell that he wanted a cab so as to leave the house, adding: "'lf my wife has hid her box I will pull the house down, and if your nephew interferes I will do for ulm.'' Mrs. Campbell said: "Here's my nephew." Accused said: ''Are you Stag. poole?" and caught witness by the waistcoat, and butted him twice in tile face before he could get his hands out of his pockets. He then got his hands ■out anil stopped McCarthy. Witness was sorry.to say this assault had knocked one of his teeth out. He only had five good teeth, and was sorry to lose that one.

Accused cross-examined witness, who in reply to a query as to how a blind man could know where he was, said: "I am satisfied you can see. No blind jman could do what you can do. :! Mrs. Campbell gave evidence, saying that after accused had assaulted Stagpoole, she said: ''Why don't you hit him, Jack?" but he replied, "I can't; he's blind." Accused, on oath, alleged that Stagpoolc had assaulted him first. In reply .to the Magistrate as to how he lost bis /ryesisrht, accused said it was through splinters getting into his eyes while cracking stones. The newspapers naa published fabulous accounts of this. The Magistrate said he had no doubt ,that McCarthy had assaulted Stagpoo.'e. He might have done serious injury, bring blind. Accused's record was a very bad one. he havinsr been sentenced to terms varying from two days to 18 'months for drunkenness, crueltv to a horse, assault, resisting the police, trespass, theft, and breaking and entering. He would be convicted and fined £2, n default one week's imprisonment with hard labor. Accused was then charged with unlawfully resisting Edwin James Whitehouse, police constable, in the execution of his duty. This arose out of the ease of assaulting Mrs. Campbell, heard last week. Accused pleaded guilty.

His Worship remarked that as these three cases had all arisen out of one matter, and as accused had been committed for trial on a move serious charge, he would deal more leniently witdi accused than he would otherwise have done. Still, it must be understood that he could not pass over an assault on the police. Accused would be convicted and sentenced to 48 hours' imprisonment with hard labor.

Accused then asked that the bail on the assault case should be reduced to his own recognisance, as ho was unable to get bail, and wished to hunt up * material witness.

His Worship, however, refused this, stating that accused could issue subpoenas and the police would endeavor to find the witness. Accused stated that he could lav a perjury charge in the Stagpoole assault case. The Magistrate remarked that he had no doubt whatever that perjury had been committed, but it was not on Stagpoole's side.