A STREET ROW.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1920, Page 7

A STREET ROW.

PARTICIPANTS BEFORE COURT. As the outcome of a Saturday night fight in Devon Street, two men, Leonard Copestake and John Dennis, were charged before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. yesterday with using threatening behaviour causing a breach of the peace. Copestakc pleaded guilty and the other defendant not guilty. Evidence was given by' Sergeant MeCrorie that about ten o'clock on the night of tlie Gtli inst., he was in Devon Street East and his attention was directed to the fight. Copestake was bleeding at the moufli, and the other man showed marks v<here he had been struck. At the time of witness' arrival Dennis was lying on the footpath. During the evidence, Copestake said Dennis struck the first blow. Dennis stated that the row started a week before in a hotel. Copestake made a smack at him and missed, but witness did not miss and Copestake went down. He evidently had a grudge against warders. Witness had recently retired from the service. On (the Saturday night, Copestake came out of his house and attacked witness. Witness, in reply to the SubInspector. denied that the trouble eventuated over a woman. _ After other evidence his Worship decided to convict both defendants, and a fine of £l, co9ts 7s, was imposed in each ease.