ALLEGED ASSAULT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 272, 29 August 1933, Page 3

ALLEGED ASSAULT

THE CASHMERE INCIDENT.

FOUR .YOUTHS BEFORE COURT

■'Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

“Finally sticking a pin into their victim to see whether or not He was dead, the assailants made off.’ This statement was made by Chief-Detective Dunlop in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in describing what took place at Cashmere on Saturday night when a youth was allegedly assaulted by three others. He said that there was a suggestion of a. “Kelly Gang” or Ku Klux Klan about the affair.

A sandbag, said to have been used in the assault, was produced in Court. Four youths faced the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, on charges arising out of the assault and subsequent investigations made by the police. The accused were:—

Philip Percival Sharp, 1.7 years of age, a printer, living at Fisher Street, who was charged that on August 20, he stole six shillings the property: of Thomas Allan Crawshaw.

William Joseph Hallins, 18 years of age, a stoker, living In Rolleston Street, and Stanley Thomas Allan Crawshaw, . 17 years of age, a student, living in Manchester Street, who wei\e jointly charged with assaulting Philip Percival Sharp at Cashmere on August 26.

Norman Frederick Fletcher, 18 years of age, a signwriter, living at Page’s Road, who was charged with breaking and entering St. Mary’s Church, Merivale, on August 25, and committing theft.

All four were remanded to appear on September 5. Mr Amodeo appeared for Sharp and Hallins, Milliken for Crawshaw, and Mr Twyneham for Fletcher. Bound and Gagged. Chief-Detective Dunlop said that at 8 o’clock on Saturday night Sharp went down to Cashmere Hills, having received an anonymous letter asking him to go there. On arrival he was seized by three other youths. A portion of his hair was cut off and he was bound and gagged, and then bit on tlie bead with a sandbag. “Finally the assailants stuck a .pin into their victim to see if he was dead or not,” said the chief-detective- “One of the youths had a shotgun. There is a suggestion of a Kelly gang or a Ku Klux Klan about this affair.” Other Charges Pending. In submitting that possibly the case might he remanded to tlie Children’s Court, the cliief-detective added that other -charges would bo laid when investigations had been completed. “I want to hear all the facts' before I remand the accused there, let me tell you,” said Air Mosley. “Charges of theft, breaking and entering and unlawful conversion of• cars are all in it, sir,” replied tlie chiefdetective.

Mr Amodeo, who appeared for Sharp, asked whether the Magistrate would consider the suppression, of name. Sharp was the boy who had been assaulted.

The-chief-detective: Although Sharp was assaulted for breaking the gang’s order, he is involved in the charges. Air Amodeo: Sharp is living at home with his father, wfio knew notlm g about the affair until inform :d by tie teetives on Sunday morning. Mr Alosley: There is no suggestion that the father bad anything to do with the case.

Air Amodeo: Not at all sir, but the father will look after the boy'

“Spirit of Adventure. ’

“The police have given you the bones of the case,” said Air Afillikcn to the Magistrate, “and the way tiny have done that might make it appear more serious that it really s. r lho Magistrate might think that it is more of a boyish prank in the spirit of adventure.”

Air Aloslev: Oh! spirit of adventure! Have, you seen that’ sandbag? The:e is not much spirit of advene i - o in that, is there?

Air Atilliken: Oil! no, no, possibly not.

Mr Alosley: It is all very well for counsel to talk about spirit of adventure. This is the kind of spirit that has to be put a stop to. Air Amodeo said that Hnllin’s employers were prepared to take him back. Bail was allowed in the sum of £IOO and two sureties of £SO for each accused.

Air Amodeo : AVill your YYorship consider suppression of name ? Air Alosley: I will not.