MIDNIGHT AFFRAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 58, 26 July 1912, Page 4

MIDNIGHT AFFRAY.

STORY TOLD IN COURT;. DRAMATIC DISAVOWAL. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. "If I am tried and found guilty, n9God is my Judge, I am an innocent man. I am willing to admit what I have done., but I have not done violent crime ofc ♦hat sort. It is not my nature or mydisposition to strike any man a blowlike that." So protested Paul EugeneSerin in the Police Court this morning,, in the course of a case in which he waa charged that, at Epsom "on the night of June 25, he assaulted A. J. Roberts., billiard saloon-keeper, so as to cause himu actual bodily harm. The chief witness against prisoner wa» Alfred James Roberts, who keeps a bookshop and billiard saloon opposite th» tram barn at Epsom. He stated thai about 11.23 p.m. on the date in questionhe locked up and left the premises to go to his cottage at the back. ; He noticed' out of the corner of his eye a dark object by the side of an outbuldings H« turned his head to see what it wae>. when he was struck on the side of thw head .by a, piece of wood, two by two,. and about three feet long. The man who had the wood took a step towards wit"-* ness as the latter fell on his hands ami knees. Witness rose and called out, ani the man. who was then accused, made fot the wall of the section, witness following. Accused carried the stick over the wall. The night was a moonlight night, but there was a hazy cloud over the noon. Witness had a good look at his assailant. Accused lived about 20 minute*' walk from witness' place. The polic* same in response to witness' call, but his assailant got away. Witneas afterwards picked Serin out from amongst a number of men (more than a dozen, hj« thought), and identified him as his assailant.

To accused: Ha. was positively suvr Serin was the man who struck him. Accused: What identification have von got?

Witness: Your face. It is a remarkable face. i Accused: How? Witness: Your eyes, your nose, you* hair, and moustache.

Then it was that Serin protested his innocence in words given above. Continuing Serin asked what reason hj« would have for doing such a thing. Witness answered: Robbery, I suppose. Thereupon prisoner said that he himself had heen similarly assaulted recently in Xewton by a man who struck him oil the nose, breaking it, and he could no* identify his assailant, though he was a. stronger man than Roberts, and better able to stand such « blow. He coulrt giva no reason why he wa9 hit. "Now, Mr. Roberts," he went on, "don't you honestly and truthfully th ; nk you have made a mistake?" Witness: No.

Accused: Well, you have, because I can prove where I was, which I will do. Dr. Smith, stated that the would on Roberts' head was about two inches long, and bled very profusely. Had it been lower down on the head it would havt been very dangerous. Serin pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial.