A SWISS MIX-UP.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 6

A SWISS MIX-UP.

BAD LANGUAGE AND BLOWS. CASE AT STRATFORD. At the Stratford Police Court on Friday, before Messrs C. X). Sole and J. McCiuggage. the police proceeded agair.st tour Swiss faruicrs on account ol unruly behaviour at the Commercial Hotel and stables un Saturday, October 5. The men implicated in tile charges were A. Werder, farmer. Kiore. Schieker and .Josef Chamberlain. fanners, >Kaponga, and A. Miers, tarmer, Bird road. Mr .Stanford appeared for Miers ami Mr Co) email for NVerder.

Werder also charged Miers with assault. AU defendants pleaded not guilty.

Sergeant Dale conducted the prosecution, and placed Werder in the bos.. Witness stated that, late in the afternoon he went to tho Commercial Hotel Schieker and the other -men were at the bar. .Miers nsed an offensive name, and commenced pushing and shoving witness, but he took no notice and went out. Later on he wer.t to the stables at the rear of the hotel, when Miers again made an insinuation, also remarking that Miers had lent him money. Witness replied slating lie did not owe him anything, and further words followed, the two coming to blows, Later on witness went back to the hotel, and whilst there heard someone say: "There he is!" The three men in court then rushed at hiui knocking liitn down and kickjug him. Miers and Schieker both struck him but could not say Chamberlain did. He had to receive medical attention, and the patch over the eye was the result of the attack. lie ad mited he struck Mien whilst in the stables but 'his was through in offensive remark.

To Mr Sanford admitted there was trouble between witness and but would deny he was looking for trouble. He admitted being in two or three hotels during tho afternoon and may have six or seven small beers, hirjt denied he v;as under the influence of drink. Whei ie met Miers in the stable there may been two or three others there.

P. Phalen, licensee of th? Commercial Hotel, stated that when the three men saw Werder they rustied the latter, knocking him down. Witness interfered, and separated them. The polica were communicated with, and Dr Stevens' services were required for Werder. Regarding Chamberlain, he did not think ho had .anything to do with the fracas

To the Sergeant: The three men cime at Werder as soon as the iatter «me in. W. Rowson, borough inspector, and Constable Robertson, gave evidence The latter stated ttw.fi Miers complained that, Werder had used bad language and had previously struck him.

Mr Stanford stated that Miers suffered from provocation. He had been m town, that day and after making several purchases had. gone to the stables preparatory to going home. Here he met Werder, who used offensive language to them when Miers was unprepared struck him a blow that partially stunned him, and then went out. Miers then went into the hotel to get a drink and whilst there Werder came in. Stung by the blow he received in tho stable he immediately went round and closed with Werder. Counsel admitted he did wrong in taking the law into his own hsjids, but had received great- provocation. A Miers farmer, Bird road, gave evidence to this effect. 1

Richard Sneller, Ngaere. Mrs Petersen, Cardiff, and M. Fuller, Hunter road, gave evidence relating to the quarrel between Miers and Werder in the stables. AH heard Werder use the language complained of.

0. J. Schuinaeker, Chen! road, said he was in the lior.f.l when the trouble arose. When Werder came in Schieker, Miers and Chamberlain went round to where Warder was and attacked him. He. saw Miers and Schickel- strike Werder, but Chamberlain he did not notice.

At Mr Coleman's request Werder went back to the witne33' box and stated that whilst in the stables he had a fewwords with Jtiers about tin latter lending witness money, witness replying, "Do I owe you anything!" Miers then accused liiin of tampering with girls, and witness then struck Miers. Whilst, there the three nier. rushed him, knocking him down.

Josef Chamberlain, Kaponga, elected to give evidence on his own behalf. He was in the stables when Miers and Werder had the dispute and heard the language used. Later on Werder went out, and then they met again in the bar. A struggle took bat he did not take part. Sergeant Dale: Chamberlain, you have been in the Jiabii- of putting is the boot.

"Witness: Yes; I did two months for assault, but I had enough thai. time, so I did nothing to Werder

Seliiceker's evidence was to effect that he was in the hotel with his comrades when Werder came in. They moved round to his aide, and in the strn-fgie somebody kicked him, so he kicked back. Could in;v remember whether he hit Werder. Sergeant Dale said he desired it known thai the Swiss farmers must understand they could not come into town and misbehave themselves. It happened that they got tsauf drunk, became a mtisance to the public.. :iwi then got away. The public would r.ot tolerate this conduct.

O.itanan stated that Werder had been tin* vi'.f,i:fl of tho attack. He had suffered from the injuries received, and hvl rosaicftl expenses to pay Schieker had no provocation whatrv.tr, but had gone in the fray area he thought under those 'eircumstnm.'«s the pemlty tJio'old be more severe.

The Bench then severely admonished all the defendants, and fined Schickel" £lO, Miers and Werder £5 each, whilst Chamberlain's charge was wiuidt-iv.-n.