A FREE FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 71, 23 March 1906, Page 4

A FREE FIGHT.

BAmNpt AN .Oli) M2£N. * The sequel to the row •which occurred Lα His Hagesty , ! Arcade on.. 3ajurdiy nin-nt J week arose at the "Police Court th?s moriiing, when' BDatrold, Johnson, C?TTii iiartin 'and QauoVe' "Martfn enarged.withHassaultmgi-W. F. MacMurray, Albert COS, and Ernest sHams on the nlgit pf Jlarcli : 3lr. C. J. Pai-r appeaufed _ for Johnson jund ilr. fetctett tor the,MaTtiiis, "Alfred. X ' . tlie witness, stated mat as tie was leasing His "Majesty's "Theatre "on the night of the 10th ins*;, three young. nien approached him. One pulled his hat off and threw it on the ground. He struck the man in the face and -walked, on. His hat •sya-s pulled off, and lie walked up, intending;to assault, anvojie who assaulted him, when another nian advised them to '• let the old nian alone." One man. who was not charged, and with whom he.was unacquainted, struck him in the- face. Two persons then interfered, and. a free fight-took place. He bad no complaint against Johnson, 'who had not harmed him in any way. Cyril Martin had not .interfered with him, his only action being, an. attempt to dissuade liia brother from taking pari in| the fight. Ernest Adams stated that when leaving the theatre he saw Cox hit by Cyril JUartin and by Johnson. Martin had not. hit him hard, and witness asked • him to use his influence to induce his mates to let the old man alone. Johnson then rushed forward and. said he would give Cox a punch, when a young 'man named Mac Murray caught him by the shoulders and broke the force of the . blow. Johnson -turned round and deliberately punched, iim in tbe eye, •knocking him • down. Meantime witness was- punched- by the man to whom he had --appealed, and Johnson also rushed up and struck him: Witness defended himself, and melee bis hand went through a window, his , wrist being.badly <>ut. ' Mr. Parr: Who should knpw best who struck Mr. Cox; you or him? —My state-' mentis that Johnson struck Cox. ffm, Frederick Mac-Murray said "that on the night in question he saw two ! men taking Cox's hat off and knocking it about. He asked Johnson'to give the old man a chance, arid >yas imme-, diateiy after struck in the' ef?e so forcibly that he was dazed for sonic time. He remembered nothing of the row subsequently.

To 'Sir. Parr, witness stated tbat he did not know who struck him, the blow was so sudden.

Harry Farnham, assistant librarian at the public library, stated that he paw Johnson hitting Cox lightly on the head, and when Mac Murray intervened he was struck in the face, apparently by Johnson. Adams then interfered, and he was also struck. He considered that interference was quite -justified, and would have intervened himself had not the others intervened previously.

Jas. Smith, caretaker of H.M. Arcaae, stated that he saw Cox kicked by Johnson. Mr. MaeMurray asked the young fellows to leave the old man alohej and was punched in' the face. Adams then interfered on behalf; and' "vras hit by Johnson'and Claude Martin.' r -

This completed the cisc' for the 'prosecution. ■'

Claude Martin said that he was standing in the Arcade when he' saw two men tackling Johnson. Ho went to : Johnson's assistance, and Adams "fastened ,on" to him. him abtfuf "the Arcade and dfivmjmliini up against a window. Adams to strike him, and his fist went through a \*lndow. His brother tnen came lip and took him away from the, fight. Mr. Uaekett pointed out that there was "nothing against Cyririlartin. The Bench considered that the whole trouble had been caused'by onthe part of the, three youths. Tfc "Vvas not a case of whaf.was done toJVtr._Cox but of protectirig the public" so tCat they might walk along the public place 3 in decency and without seeing these row.s. Seeing .that the accused were resgeptable, convictions would not be. recorded against them. £inee ihat. Would be very serious for "them; but they would have to pay all .the costs. Sir. Adams was commended for iiis action, . the Bench expressing the .opinion that he was deserving of the thanks of the community. The cost* were 10/ in each case.