THE MOTUIHI ASSAULT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1918, Page 4

THE MOTUIHI ASSAULT.

ACCUSED COMMI TTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A German civilian named Freitz SchXallkuche, interned on Motuihi Island, was charged at the Police Court, before Mr. Fraser, S.M., with assaulting another German, Franz Albin Volkoroer, on February 11 last, so as to cause bodily harm. The evidence showed that trouble arose through an alleged statement of complainant to one of the guard that the men in C barrack were no good, aud that the cadets were especially marked out. Volknjer was accused of having more sympathy with the British than with the Germans. He denied this, and as the outcome of further quarrelling accused struck him, fracturing his jaw. Accused admitted the blow, but said the fracture was accidental.

The magistrate to complainant: Have they been calling you a Socialist and that sort of thing?, Witness (smiling): I know lam a Socialist. / • The magistrate: And have they been pitching into you? Witness: There has been some discussion, but they never told me anything about it. Schmallkuche, in answer to a. question on this said: "I don't remember calling him it, but he is a Socialist and an I/VV.W. man." The chief detective remarked that some of the men had apparently been making general statements at the meal table in-/ tended to apply to Volkmer. Schmallkuche added that he and others had been annoyed because Volkmer used to talk about German.soldiers having the courage to desert, and used to rejoice over news in the paper about strikes in Germany. Volkmer replied that he had not shown any joy, but he argued with Mine of the other men that strikes were political, and they could not expect everything to go smoothly in Germany. Accused, who claimed to be<a military prisoner, pleaded not guilty, and* was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in the nominal sum of £lO, the bondsman to be a military officer. This course was adopted in order to permit of accused being returned to Motuihi. The military, however, declined, and accused was committed to Mt. Eden Gaol.