FRACAS IN A HOTEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1917, Page 2

FRACAS IN A HOTEL.

A GERMAN ASSAULTED. Several black eyes and general disfigurements were in evidence" at tlie New 1 lymouth S.M. Court yesterday morning, as the result of a fracas in the Grosvenor Hotel on Saturday evening. In consequence, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Sydney Edward Dennett was charged with '(I') assault of Edward 'McGinty,. (-2) assault of Gustave Sulir by striking and kicking him, (3) witli using indecent language and (4) with refusing to leave the premises when requested to do so. David O'Neill was also charged with (1) using obsene language, (-2) refusing to leave the premises when requested to do so, and (3) using threatening behaviour. (Sub-Inspector Mcllveney prosecuted on behalf of the police, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Gustave Suhr, who was discolored considerably about the eyes, said he was a German who reported himself weekly to the police. He was in McGinty's hotel on Saturday night. 110 had two ship models in bottles. He went in by himself to have a drink. He was sober but bad had two or three drinks during the afternoon. Dennett interfered with him and wanted to take the models from him. He said he could riot have them, and then accused struck him in the face He got the marks on the face from accused. He was "floored." Ho said: ''Give me that bottle you by German b ■!" He was on the floor and as he got up accused wiped the blood off witness' face, saying: "I'm spoiling my silk handkerchief through wiping the Wood off a German b !" He was hit sever--11l times when he was down. McGinty camo in as he was rising to his feet. He stuck to the bottles all this time. He made no remark to make accused speak to him. Mr. Johnstone: He had seen Dennett only once in his life. What were you doing on Saturday?— Nothing. He had no 'work. When did you leave lmme Saturday —ln the morning and afternoon. He was in' the Imperial and Criterion Hotels only —Yes, he was in the Royal. He had no drink in the Royal. He had so more than three drinks all day. 'Did you not first show your models to Dennett?—No. Where did you go after you left the Grovesnor?—Straight home. How 'did Dennett know you were a Herman ?—T don't know, Sir. Henry William Bushy stated he V"ent to the. Grosvenor Hotel for a drink, Suhr '."as in the bar but in a different portion. His attention was first drawn by a struggle between Suhr and Dennett. Dennett had Suhr round the neck trying to get a bottle. Dennett got up and repeatedly struck the other man. Suhr seemed to be knocked out. Tn the meantime Mr. MeGinty arrived, and Denhett picked up Suhr and wiped Suhr's face, saying something about Geramn blood. McGinty asked what he meant by kicking a man to death, or words to that effect Both accused-refused to leave the premises, O'Neill may have liad a few drinks but Dennett was perfectly sober.- They started arguing the point; and using "choice" words. They pot very fightable. but he could not say who struck Mr. MeGinty first. They Were striking at everyone. Mr. Johnstone: How many drinks did you have?— One. What did you do when you saw a man being kicked to death ?—Nothing. - You did nothing?—No, it-;was not my funeral.

Did you take any note of the words? ■—No. Didn't you write it down?— No. one didn't, need'to write the words down. They 'were choice. Was there anything broken?— Just a bit of skin; Sulir'a and MeGinty's Why did you not tell the police that O'Neiil struck McGinty?—O'Neill was striking at everybody. Then why is he not charged?—l can't help that. All this time you stood by?— You might think so. Edward McGinty, whose left) eye was discolored, licensee of the Grosvenor I Hotel, said in consequence of a complaint from Mrs. McGinty he went into the bar and saw Dennett leaning over Gus. Sulir 'who was lying down. Dennett was striking Suhr. He said: "Leave him alone!" Dennett lifted Suhr up and wiped tlie blood off Su'hr's face. He asked accused 'Dennett to leave the premises and he would look after Suhr. Accused then began arguing the point about being nsked out and commenced to use indecent language. They both went out, tad accused O'Neill when tiiev came back struk one. Frewin and said: ,'Til fight anyone in the bar!" O'Neill was highly excited, but was not the worst of the two. It was while lie was watching O'Neill that Dennett came from behind and struck 'him. Dennett would not stop to face the music but got O'Neill to fight. He. was a coward and cunning. 'Mr. Johnst-one: So you are partly to blame for the Donnybrook, Mr. McGinty ? —ln what -way? By' striking accused. —Well, I had to look after myself when attacked. * Constable Blaikie detailed the arrest. O'Neill was arrested in Egmont street and coming up to the corner they met Recused Bennett. Accused Dennett asked: "What is the matter, Dave?" speaking to and witness replied about the affair at the Grosvenor Hotel. Dennett said ho had not been in O'Neill's company since 2 o'clock. When taken to the lockup Dennett pulled out a 'handkerchief saying, "This is German blood." Dennett was quite sober. O'Neill, who had had drink, was not drunk. Mr. Johnstone said it was a case in which tho facts under the circumstances were considerably exaggerated. The two men were in town all day, and in the 'Grosvenor Hotel Suhr asked Dennett to buy the models. Dennett refused and Suhr lifted the bottle as to strike and Dennett. Dennett struck him first and then picked him up and wiped his face. 'P'ne irten 'were asked to leave the house 'after the Wrfsv was over practically. Suhr was well away 'when the fight took place, O'Neill, who '"evidently came off worst as ho had two black cyea and the others only oiie each," stepped in to save his mat*', He was inoffensive and it was his first time before the Court. Ho had ■no desire to mitigate what was done. It was after Suhr was'away home and McGinty stepped in that the row proper : commenced. As to the charge of threatening behaviour they had not got Frewin theTe to say who struck first —only Busby, who said he 'would stand, by and . see a man kicked to death. ! Sydney Edward Dennett, in his evidence, said Snlrr offered him the models at £2 10s and then £2, tout lie said it was too much like the German fleet "bottled up," Suhr made to strike him and he punched his nose, and he went ; to the floor. He picked Sulir up and •Wiped his face. McGinty then came In , and struck O'Neill and kicked him when ' iio jwas.idown. Thjae aaea sriisked, svii-

11 css and then the "fun" started. Ho did not attempt to take the models. He never heard any language. There 'was 110 time to say anything. They were on me like a swarm of Lees. The Sub-Inspector: Why did you leave O'Neill your mate?—l didn't want to go to the lookup. You have seen Suhr. Did you mark him? —He had a 'black, eye before he came to the pub. Why did you not lea.vc the hotel when requested ? —We left when we were told to —after the fight; You have heard what the other witnesses have said, about the language, you going outside and returning and the striking, that is all a lie—Accused: Yes, all lies. David O'Neill gave evidence as to MsGinty first striking and then kicking him. lie had no recollection of striking anyone. ilia Worship asked that Mr. McGinty be recalled. Mr. MeOintv corroborated his previous evidence. He did not strike O'Neill when he came 111. O'Neill Avould have gone quite peaceably when requested, tout Dennett got nasty. The Sub-Inspector said nothing was known of O'Neill who seemed a quiet man. Dennett, he was sorry to say, was 011 the downward path. He had no doubt but that this sort of thing was a prelude to assault and robbery. O'Neill was fined £1 for refusing to leave the premises and'£l for threatening behaviour and 14s costs. 11l sentencing Dennett to a month's hard labor, 011 the charge of using obscene anguage. His Worship said he was determined to put it down. Accused was also fined £5 for assaulting Suhr ( £1 to go to Ruhr), 111 default one month; £3 for assaulting McGinty (£1 to go to MeGinty), in default 14 days; and for refusing to quit the premises £'2 (or fourteen days), expenses l"2s.