STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] WIIAXG AMOMONA ASSAULT CASE. ACCUSED REMANDED FOR SEN- ' TENCE. Stratford, March 27. At the S.M. Court on Monday mornin jr. H. L. Marcroft, a cadet employed at"the Whangamomona railway station, was charged with assaulting Henry Comrie, stationmaster, and causing actual bodily harm. Messrs C. D. £ole and J. Masters, .J.P.'s, were on the Bench. Accused, wlio was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty. Henry Comrie, stationmaster at Whangamomona. stated that he was on duty alone on the 16th inst. up to 11 p.m. Marcroft was a cadet) receiving £OS per annum, with Ss per weeic board allowance. At 10.30 accused went for the mail, handing over same to witness. When )i o left the station tlicre was £U> to £lB on the premises, and Marcroft must have known this. On leaving he came through the waiting room and down the platform, carrying a lamp ■in lone hand and two newspapers in the other. He was in the act of locking the door when he received a blow on the head, which partially stunnWl and also deafened him. He received two more blows, but these he minimised by warding them off scY.'»ev;hat with the newspapers. In the struggle that followed in the waiting-room his f.?.asilar.t vainly endeavored to throw him, but witness threw hia opponent. During this attacklift had the thumb on the right hand badly bitten, the nail being' torn off, whilst the fingers on the left hand were also knocked about. The wounds on his head and shoulders were caused by the blows struck at the commencement of the attack. After getting the man down he called for assistance, but none coming, lie let his man get up. Witness then walked on to the platform, and accused followed. He then recognised Marcroft. The latter spoke first, saying, "It's all right." and witness asked him, "What's the game?" He then called in and saw Hunt on the way home. From what he eould see he did not believe Marcroft was drunk.

Dr. Steven, Stratford, deposed that lie I-ad examined ths injuries sustained by the previous witness and attended tt, same. .

William E. Hunt, engine-cleaner, stat. Ed that fie was on duty on the IfltK. Saw Mareroft and asked him if he was going home. This was about 10.30, but Mareroft went in the direction of the railway station. Bid not believe Marcroft was under the influence of drink. At 11.45 Comrie called at his hut and said. "Marcroft's up there; he's gone mad." Noticed that Comrie's face was covered with blood, andjhis clothes, tie, etc., disarranged. Comrie went awa;;. and witness went on with his work. Had had n. coiiversatioi. with Mareroft that morning concerning the latter's annual hqlida.vs, which were then due. Accused said he had the money and was going to have a good time. Had only | noticed Mareroft once under the influence of drink.

Constable Seannel, Whangamonv.ir.a, dtposed that at 1 a.m. on the 17th inst. Hunt came to him ar.d told hfm there had been some trouble at the railway station. Went to Comrie's ar.d found him bandaged up. In consequence of a conversation he then went to Mareroft.'* hut and arrested liim. Accused was in bed and apparently asleep. Mareroft asked whit was the matter, and witness told him he was under arrest for assaulting the stationmaster. Accused replied, "Oh! I was drunk, and did not know what I was doing!" Took him to the police station and found he had ten pennies on him. He was scratched ori the face; his left arm was scratched and bandaged with a handkerchief. There was no sign of drink or smell of liquor on the boy (18 years). His shirt was much pulled about and blood was on his hands. Then went to the railway station with Hunt and searched the waiting-room. There found the pick-axe handle (produced) and hat belonging to Mareroft. Found spots of blood on the floor and a small pool on the seat. Searched accused's but and found the sweater (produced), which contained blood etair.s. Accused's hut was u-bont 110 yards from the station. Had known him i'or about nine months. Spoke to him f.tout wasting his time in billiardrooms, f.r,d his warning had had effect. Accused had purchased £5 worth of war bonds, and was owing small amounts to storekeepers totalling £l3. This was all the evidence produced. .Mareroft was formally remanded, to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. A. AX'D P. ASSOCIATION.

The A'. & P. /soclatlon are meeting again on Saturday to consider the question of either holding the show next November or abandoning it for 1917. The matter was fully and freely discussed last Saturday, but the general committee were not prepared to vote on the matter there and then, although it was very evident that the feeling of members was that the Association would be adopting a retrograde step ii they failed to hold the usual show. The president was emphatic on the matter. Their financial obligations make it necessary that the executive should raise certain sums each year to meet current accounts, and the surest and best method was by holding the two days' show. The discussion afforded an opportunity for several speakers to touch on other matters that have been troublesome in the past. *The first was that quite a number of members failed to meet their financial obligations. In some instances farmers at a distance had accepted membership, and then their payments failed to materialise. Some had reasonable excuses, no doubt. Living too far away and not being able to get in may have made them forget their obligations, but there were many others who claimed and exercised full privileges and then neglected to meet their calls. It is these that the executive desire to bring to book, and if they (the dilatory ones) are careless now it is just as well to remove them froip the list altogether. The other mr. r* touched on was the cost entailed i resting visiting judges, stewards and press, and, judging by the figures quo; -ii, the expenditure was fairly heavy. If ever there was an opportune time to curtail expenses surely it is the present, and perhaps by cutting out the luncheon privileges, etc., the Association would save £6O or thereabouts, and this would pay interest on a fairly large sum, whilst the reduction of the prize-list would mean a further saving. The school children have had to accept certificates in lieu of prizes of a more satisfactory nature, and the Gxaraplo set by the school yo'.irsgaitfi could very well b® fqllowcd. MoigiMM thi ggfet

that they Jiil not wish to be unpatriotic. Very well; let them be patriotic and loyal to the Association by being content with the barren honor of holding a prize ribbon without the accompanying £ s. d. It, seems rather premature to discuss the abandonment or otherwise. November is a long way off. If abandonment of the show is decided on it will mean that all interest in the Association will have—temporarily, at least —been lost. There is plenty of work ahead for the executive, and if they are looked to to give, the member? a lead then their obligations to the bank, ote., should make it necessary that the sliow in I°l7 must eventuate. The progress made last year was substantial, and it would'be a pity if this work were now to be neglected or dropped. The president (Mr. E. Jackson) and his executive have put in a great deal of work, and are entitled to every credit. The meeting to discuss the question will be held next Saturday, and particulars will appear by advertisement in a future issue. GENERAL The Ladies' .patriotic Committee wore kept busy 011 finturday. The tea rooms were in good demand and £'s lis fid secured. The Hart also received substantial patronage, the amount taken by the sale of produce, etc., being £'? S. The Stratford Hand will be heard in open-air performances shortly. A recruit who should life the band along is Sergeant-Major Mahoncy, who is a cornet player. He has had a wide experience in band membership, and his assistance should be of grc-at value to Conductor Ford. No matter how careful one may be, mistakes will happen. In my notes of the A. & 'P. Association meeting. I distinctly 'Wrote that the land offered for the Model Dairy Farm by Mr. Dingle had been accepted. The iinoman made it Mr. Douglas. There is no such person as far as model farms are concerned, so '[ am directed to carefully note that Mr. Douglas should have read Mr. Dingle. The County Council meets on Wednesday. The fortnightly sittings of. the S.M. ■Court, before Mr. Ilaselden, S.M., will be .'(leld on Friday.