STABBING AFFRAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 40, 9 August 1911, Page 4

STABBING AFFRAY

AX ANGRY FATHER. OBJECTS TO HIS DAUGTHER'S YOUNG MAN. Auckland, August 7. A case of stabbing that occurred at Williamson avenue (Ponsonby) on the night of July 22nd occupied the attention of the Police Court to-day, ulien John Oliver Sims, a slightly-built young man, was charged with assaulting Micliael Lenihau, a powerful-looking man, so as to do him serious bodily harm.

Michael Lenihan stated that after 10 p.m. he went for a walk in Williamson avenue, when he met his daughter walking with Sims. lie had an objection to Sims paying attention i;o his daughter, and said'to him, "You rotter! You take advantage of my being away from homo to keep my daughter out so late at night!" Then he doaed with Sims, and a scuffle ensued, in the course o.' which Sims used a knife, with the result that Lenihan was stabbed in the forearm and in the neck. That was how the trouble started. He felt something like a knock on the chin and fell down dazed, and Sims pinned him to the ground and stabbed him in the forearm. In consequence of the stab in the forearm touching one of the nerves, the first and second fingers of his left hand were paralysed. 11l answer to Mr. Cotter, Lenihan said that he was now separated, from hit wife. He considered that Sims was responsible for the trouble between himself and his family. Although separated from his wife, witness considered that he had a father's privilege to say who should go with his daughters. He struck the first blow at Sims. Dr. Keith stated that the wound in the neck was a vertical wound, about an inch long and three-quarters of an inch deep below the left ear. It had escaped the caratoid artery iby about half an inch. The wound in the left forearm was an inch and a half to an inch and three-quarters iu length, and about three-quarters of an inch deep. Roberta Mabel Lenihan, who was in the company of the accused at the time of the affray, stated that she did not know that her father had any objection to her walking out with Sims. The accused was not the cause of the trouble in their home. Both her sister and herself had left home on account 0f their father's violence, and witness herself did not go back home until the separation order was made. Accused was committed or trial.