MIDHIRST SENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1922, Page 6

MIDHIRST SENSATION.

O'CONNOR BEFORE COURT. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (From Our Stratford Representative.) March 22. A story of stirring happenings at a lonely wood-cutter’s camp, iv a grove of wineberries that skirts the Radnor Road, near Midhirst, was unfolded in the Stratford Court to-day. Edward O’Connor was charged that he assaulted George Speck so as to cause him actual grevious bodily harm by striking him on the head with a piece of wood, and sticking a pitchfork into his head. C. O. Sole and J. W. McMillan, J.’sP. were on the Bench. O’Connor had previously been before th court on Wednesday last, when he was remanded on bail. Speck appeared in the court heavily bandaged and looking considerably tne worse for the encounter, while the prisoner, a much younger man. presented an unruffled front. The charge was supported for the police by Sergeant Dale, and Mr. A. Coleman appeared for accused. THE VICTIM’S STORY. Sppck, who was allowed to sit down while he told his story, said that he was a wood-cutter by occupation. On March 14 he returned from town to his camp on the Radnor Road, near O’Connor’s property. About 4 p.m. he had taken his horse out of the wagon and was bathing its shoulders near his tent when O’Connor drove down the road in a gig with two other men. They pulled up at the gate, and then, said Speck, O’Connor got out of the gig and came towards him. Before he knew where he Jvas he got it fair in the eye from O’Connor’s fist.

Witness admitted that O’Connor had I accused him of poisoning his O’Connor’s cat before making the assault. “O’Connor told me to get the bottle of poison,” Speck said, “but the only poison I had in the camp was a bottle I used on my horse. Before I could get t/iis bottle he landed me across the legs witn a piece of green fuschia. My legs are still very sore. “On being struck on the legs I fell down alongside the chimney. I tried to get up, but a camp oven lid (produced) was brought dowh on my head, and I was knocked senseless.” Up to that time he had said or done nothing to provoke an asst- ilt. He had previously I told O’Connor that a dog had been in his tent and had stolen some butter and cheese.

In answer to Sergeant 15ale Specs admitted that about four months ago he had said that O’Connor ought to be in the asylum. . CHASED WITH A PITCHFORK. On regaining consciousness after the assault, Speck said he found that the lid of the camp oven was broken. He admitted that a portion of it had been broken by his brother-in-law. He pieced up the lid and walked down the road, but had to lie down on the grass on account of the pain in his legs. Returning to the camp he saw his neighbor Kelly, and called out to him to come and see what had beep done,- but Kelly did not come. “When I called out,” said Speck, “O’Connor came running from his house with a pitchfork in his hand. He stuck the fork into my horse, which was standing near, and I said, ‘Leave that horse alone.’ O’Connor chased me with the fork, and I ran away down the road towards Midhirst with the camp oven lid in my hand. I tried to get over Kelly’s fence into the paddock, but was unable to do so, as O’Connor came from behind and stuck the fork into me. I turned and threw the oven lid at O’Connor, but missed. O’Connor then again stuck the fork through my coat behind. O’Connor said: ‘Get, you or I’ll murder you.’ No more blows were struck, and I went away to Midhirst.” Witness did not know what condition accused was in previous to the assault. Cross-examined by Mr. Coleman, Speck said he had been camped outside O’Connor’s gate for a good many months, but he denied having been a “general nuisance” to O’Connor during all that time. He did not know that complaints had been made to the police by O'Connor regarding his (Speck’s) presence at his gate. He had not trespassed on accused’s property and absolutely denied insulting him, with the exception of the reference to the asylum. He had never called, accused a “gaol bird.” MEDICAL EVIDENCE. Dr. Steven stated, in evidence that on admission to the hospital, he found Speck to be suffering from the loss of a considerable amount of blood, a blackened left eye. haemorrhage in the eye, an incised wound in the right shin, a punctured wound in the left shin, abrasions and bruises on the arms and wrists, and a large number of cuts in various places about the head. He had a cut down to the bone about the right ear, and a similar wound above the left ear, with several cuts behind the ears. He also had a punctured wound on the right buttock. Speck had been in hospital since the affair, and was still a patient. All the wounds could not have been inflicted with a man's fists, but some of them may have been inflicted with the pitchfork. In answer to Mr. McMillan, witness said Speck had lost a great deal of blood, but he’ did not think there was any danger of him losing his life. FACTORY MANAGER’S STATEMENT. A. A. Osborne, factory manager, said that on the day in question he drove to Speck’s camp with O’Connor, who had had a little drink. Arriving at Speck’s tent, O’Connor got out of the gig and got hold of Speck by the collar and shook him. Speck had given no provocation as far as witness knew. Witness called out to O’Connor to leave Speck alone, whereupon accused swung half round and pulled Speck on to the ground and kicked him. ' Witness again called out to O’Connor who, he said, did not seem to be in a temper. Speck was threatening to call the police, and picked up an old saw, with which he threatened O’Connor. It was then, witness said, that O’Connor seemed to lose his head and rushed at Speek. He picked up a piece of wood and struck Speck on the shoulder. Witness jumped out of the gig and saw Speck lying on the ground, O’Connor bending over him with a camp oven lid in his hand. He got betweea she two men aad push-

ed the oven lid out of O’Connor’s hand and told Speck to get away. O’Connor later struck Speck in the mouth with his hand, and then got into the gig with witness and drove to O’Connor’s house. Witness) did not see O’Connor chasing Speck with the fork, although he saw accused with the fork in his hand. He heard O'Connor say that he would murder Speck. J. R. Kelly, farm hand, living on the Radnor Road, gave evidence as to seeing Speck limping along the road and hearing him call out. Witness saw O’Connor pick up a pitchfork and go down the road. He did not actually see O’Connor chasing Speck with the fork. Maurice Taylor, of Radnor Road, said he took Speek in his ear from tne scene of the affray to Midhirst, where he left him on the roadside in front of Mrs. Steven’s house. It was moonlight, but he was scared to look at Speek to see his condition, though he noticed that he was covered with blood.

Martin Davis, farmer on the Radnor Road, also testified to seeing Speck crying at his gate. Referred by Mr. Coleman to the broken oven lid, witness said he thought the smaller break alleged to have been made at the time of the assault was at least some weeks old. This point was pressed by Mr. Coleman, who contended that the small break in the oven lid occurred before the alleged assault, and the larger one admittedly occurred at a later date. F. W. Belk, nephew of Speck, said he brought the camp oven from Mrs. Steven’s house to Stratford. He carried it on a motor cycle and dropped it, breaking the larger fracture in the lid. , POLICE EVIDENCE. Constable Chesnutt said he received a telephone message, and subsequently found Speck at Mrs. Steven’s house. He appeared to be badly injured, and witness brought Dr. Steven, who ordered Speck into hospital. Next day he went to O’Connor’s house with a warrant, which he read to O’Connor, who said: “I chased him with a fork, but I did not stick him with it. I gave him a lift on the ear-hole; he got on my nerves.” Witness had seen O’Connor in Stratford in the early afternoon of the 14th, and he then appeared to have had some drink. O’Connor had complained to witness of Spqck’s behaviour, saving that Speck had poisoned his cat, and his dog was dying. No one else on the road had complained of Speck.

In answer to Mr. Coleman witness said that O’Connor wanted Speck shifted from his gate, and he bad promised to look into the matter.

The case for the police being concluded, accused pleaded not guilty, and the defence was reserved. O’Connor was committed to the next sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth for trial, bail being allowed at the same figure as previously, namely, in self of £2OO or two\ sureties of £lOO each, or one of £4OO.