ALLEGED ASSAULT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 79, 15 January 1936, Page 6

ALLEGED ASSAULT

THE LAMBTON QUAY CASE.

MAN CHARGED WITH WOUNDING. TWO INCIDENTS RECOUNTED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. James Logic, alias Kelly, a labourer, aged 33, was charged to-day with having wounded Charles Crooke on January 9 and 10, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Crooke,* a salesman, said he occupied room No. 52 at the Columbia Hotel on Thursday, January 9. He returned to his room about 11 p.m., and switched on the light as he entered, and found in the room a man he took to be accused. The man asked him to come in, and he ■ felt wounds in the shoulder, but did not know what weapon was used. The assault took place in the passage just outside the room, and he rushed downstairs. He concealed himself and afterwards went to the bathroom to wash himself, and a housemaid came along and saw blood. The following morning he went to the hospital and was seen by a doctor in the casualty ward. He went into the city, and was in Lambton Quay about 10.30 a.m. Accused approached, and witness got a wound on the left side of the face. He thought the man in the box did it. He had no idea what the wound was inflicted with, and no idea where accused went afterwards. He went to a chemist, and a boy took him to a doctor, who stitched the wound.

Asked if he received any wound in any other part of the body, witness said lie had a. scratch over the heart on the Thursday night, but it was nothing.

Mrs Paynter, .housemaid at the hotel, said that her attention was attracted by somebody running downstairs, but she could not identify the figures, although she knew they were of men. She saw Mrs Rountree (proprietress) talking to accused at the front door. Mrs Rountree gave witness a key, and asked her to go to Crooke's room and get accused's hat. She found the hat on top of Crooke's suitcase. She walked to the door and handed it to accused. Asked, did it occur to you ladies to ring the police? witness replied: "Mr Crooke said he did not want any trouble." Tlie case is proceeding.