R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2936, 28 June 1888, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON—THURSDAY.

(Before Mr Yon Sturmer, R.M.) ASSAULT. W. «T. Morrison vD. PickeringAssault. Messrs Bunny and Skipper appeared for the informant, and Mr Beanl for the defence. Mr Bunny opened the case and briefly summarised the proceedings for the informant.

Willie James Morrison, the informant, gave evidence as to his being aroused from his bed at half past two on Friday morning by Mrs Williams. In reply tp inquiries she said that she and Mr Williams had had a row, and asked if I could get Mr Wright to provide her with a bed. I said I would try but was afraid the house was full, Whilst talking we heard knocks at the front door downstairs. Mrs Williams remarked that she thought it was her husband after her. I then advised her ,to go home but she refused to do so. A few minutes after this we heard footsteps on the stairs, and Mrs Williams then rushed into my room and closed the door behind her. It turned out to be the landlord who said a gentleman wished to see me downstairs. I replied all right will be down in a minute, but before I had time to do so accused came up and knocked at the door, stating If I did not open it lie would. He then burst the door open and struck me three times in the mouth, knocking out one tooth and loosening three others. Mrs Williams wrestled with accused and tried to put him out. By this time two other boarders came to my assistance and put accused out of the room. lie got by tliern again and came into my room and struck me on the mouth and nose. Williams came up but was prevented from interfering with me. The accused is almost a stranger to me. The assault was witnessed by fully a dozen lodgers. At this stage tho witness described tho extent of his injuries,

In answer to Mr Bunny, witness stated from wliat lie liad heard, he was in dread that this attack would be repeated and would ' request that accused be bound over tqfckeep the peace. . Cross-examined by Mr Beard: The assault, had been so severe that he had not been able to follow his vocation, previous to the present assault witness admitted that Mr-Williams and himself had had a few words at the rear of the Club Hotel, but no blows had been exchanged. On another occasion he was at a friend's house spending the ovening with Mrs Williams, when her husband came to the front door. Finding who was there lie (witness), made out through the back door, followed by a volley of stones, which he believed were thrown by Mr Williams. This took place rbout 10.80 inij|d eveniug. When he was chased jy' hind the Club Hotel by Mr Willii v . ,j the landlord came and ordered them both off the premises. His bedroom in the Railway Boarding-honse is situated upstairs. Mr Williams had never been in his room prior to the night of the assault. When asked to leave the room she refused so I wept and laid on the bed leaving Mrs Williams watching at the Shortly after this the bedroom doorpvas burst open and the assault committed. Witness was not out in the public street during the day time from Saturday till monday. " George Hall, laborer, deposed to his lodging at Wright's boaruiug-house, and sleeping in a room adjoining that of Morrison's. Remembered the latter coming home between 11 and 12 o'clock on Thursday night. Between 2 and 3 o'clock on May morning he,, heard a woman talkingjoutside Morrison's room, and asking him to get her ■ abed. Beyond that lie did not-%": much attention to what, wus said, Bill-' parties were talking a good while, possibly a quarter of an hour, when witness heard Mr Wright come up and tell Morrison he was wanted down-... stairs to which the latter replied he would come in a minute or two. Shortly after this someone else came to the door and called informant, tel- • ling him at the same time he would give him two seconds to open the door. A few seconds expired o#l witness heard the door open ant\ close and then a scuffle. Witness then got up and vrith a fellow lodger named Scanton broke open the door and entered the room. Saw accused trying to strike Morrison, but could not owing to Mrs Williams standing between them. Advised accused to go out of the room which he did but returned again. It was on this occasion when informant was struck. After this he went downstairs and brought up Mr Williams, but they did nothing,. „ beyond using threatening language ByMrßeard: From what he could witness was of opinion tlwt the assault ' took place through Mrs Williams being .' in Morrison's bedroom. The disturbance lased about twenty minutes. The accused left the room on the first occasion without being forced. Patrick Scanlan, also a lodger at the same house, corroborated the previous witness' evidence. He heard accused express surpisp' tiHlrs Williams at seeing her in Morrison's room and also heard him threaten to malfe ' it hot for the latter. Advised ail parties to leave the room which they did. Only saw one blow struck'by accused, In reply to Mr Beard witness said lie had seen bigger rows than this and

nobody killed. Henry Edgar Eton, Chemist and druggist, gave evidence as to extent of injuries received, which lie described as not being very serious. Frederick Wright, proprietor of the Railway Boarding House gave evidence as to the informant being a boarder at his house. On Friday morning about a. quartei4ft three he was called up byMr WPliams. On that night he had 24 persons sleeping on his premises. There was no one with Mr Williams when . lie first camo and asked if Mr M orrison was in the House. A few minutes after Mr Pickering came and also asked to see Mr Morrison, Witness told him lie wouldiindliini upstairs, where lie went, Williams and witness Hjnaining - iu the room downstairs. .Presently then heard a scuffle and both went upstairs, and found Morrison, Mrs Williams, and Pickering in the room. He tried to get the two latter out, but failed. Did not see Williams interfere, but lie and Pickering wanted Morrison to come out so that they could hammer liiiu. After this lie called up some of the boarders to assist him in putting them out,

By Mr Beard; My desire was to have order restored. No blows werestrnck whilst I was there. The cause of the whole disturbance was through Mrs Williams being in the house. When I saw Morrison he was partly dressed and crouching down in a corner of the room. Had no idea Mrs Williams \vM in the house. \ Believe neither Williams nor Picker ■ ing law she was there. When Morrison came down to breakfast in the morning ho had a bad and a big nose. This closed the' evidence for the prosecution. (Left Sitting).