THE HOWARD ELLIOTT ASSAULTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1918, Page 5

THE HOWARD ELLIOTT ASSAULTS.

the el committkd for TPJAL.

By Telegra^.——Press Association. Fcilding, March 13.

There was great local Mil outside interest in the "hearing oJ the charges of disturbance at the Rev. Howard Elliott's meeting and assaults on the eiergv afterwards, which came before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., to-day. MeKee, McGrael, Woods, Kgan and Rowan were each fined £.l. for disturbing the meeting. The charges against Rowan, McKee, Mctirael. and Bgan of assaulting clergymen are being proceeded with.

Fcilding, Night. Before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., Michael Rowan, Simon MeGrael and James Egan were charged with assaulting Frederick Stockwell, Rupert McKee being charged with attempting to assault Leslie Wain. All the cases arose out of the Howard Elliott-meeting here. Inspector Mclvinnon prosecuted, and accused were represented by Mr. Cooper (Paitnerston N.). Stockwell gave evidence that after the meeting he was going along the street with Miller and Wain, when Rowan used objectionable language as they passed, and then followed them with the crowd. In a dark part of the street the crowd came on with a yell. Witness was struck, He appealed to the men to be British, but way struck again and knocked out. He was struck from behind.

Dr. Phillips described Stockwell's injuries. There wore several contusions on the face, some skin oil', and a very swollen bruise under the eliin. The sores afterwards got septic and had to be lanced. 1

Miller's own evidence, with the doctar's, showed that he had been struck from behind on the nose, eye and mouth. He had also marks on ttie liip, and a tooth was knocked off the plate.

Wain (a Salvation Army officer) identified Rowan as the man who assaulted Stockwell. After attending to Stoclcwell he chased the assailant, when McKee struck at witness, who defended himself.

Other evidence was to the effect that all four of the accused had been seen together after the assault.

Constable Anderson stated that he heard McGrael say before the the assault: "I will get the rotten cow before the night's out; see if I don't" (evidently referring to Elliott). Egan said he would like to have Elliott on the street, and would make, a football of him.

Mr. Cooper applied for the dismissal of the charges against Egan and McGrael, on the ground that there was nr evidence that they were present at the time of the assault.

The magistrate held that there was evidence of intention to assault on the part of the three, and he would sendtheni to the Supreme Court for trial. With regard to JlcKee, who was charged with attempting to assault Wain, that was not an indictable otl'enee, and he would dismiss the charge without prejudice. Tu the case of the other three, bail was fixed at £oO each.