FARMER-WATERSIDERS ASSAULTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 4

FARMER-WATERSIDERS ASSAULTED.

AN ISSUE OF THE STRIKE.

SAILOES SENT TO GAOL. Before Mr. E. C. Cut ten, S.M., yesterday afternoon, six seamen, of ages ranging from 22 years to 33 years, named Thomas Rimmer, Alec Morrison, Patrick White, John Baines, Thomas Rudder and Joseph McKenna, were charged that on December 10 they assaulted James Foley and David .McKenzie.

James Foley said that he was a fanner 'of Katikati, at present working on the wharf at Auckland. He was going to work about half past eight on December 10, and when near the Waitemata Hotel going into Queen Street from up Customs Street West, McKenna accosted him and wanted to know if witness was a fireman off the Waiotahi boat. Seeing trouble -brewing, witness didn't tell the truth, aud replied " No." Saying " Yes, you arc," McKenna struck a couple of blows at him, which landed on his shonldere, and witness pushed on ■to Queen Street, when White rushed up. White caught him by the arm saying " Some along, Jim; those strikers* axe going to mob you." Witness kept going along with White's arm linked in his. He was suspicious of White, and said, ''Who are you, anyway?" and White replied, "You ought to know mc; I'm one of your mates working for the Northern Company." Sudenly White gave witness a very heavy back-handed blow a-sross the mouth that nearly fractured his jaw, and felled him in a dazed condition. As he delivered -the blow, White said something like, "Well teach you to join the great majority." At the same time a number of men rushed from under a verandah just ahead near the Palmerston Buildings, as if they had been ready waiting. They all set on him when he was down, hitting and kicking him. White. Baines, Rudder and McKenna were amongst those who kicked him, and he also «aw Simmer and Morrison in the crowd. After a while he heaTd his mate McKenzie, who had been with him up near the Waitemata ■Hotel, call out from behind, "Isair play, boys," and the crowd turned on McKenzie, while witness got away.

To Mr. A. E. Skelton (for accused) witness denied that he was drunk, stating that the only drink he -had was & pint bottle of beer he h;id shared with McKenzie.

David McKenzie, farmer, of Rotoma, at present working at the wharf, stated that he had been in Foley's company just prior to the assault, and he saw the attack on Foley. When -he called out the men turned on him, and lie was knocked down several -times. Wihen the police came up a number of the mien ran away. Witness identified W&ite as the man who had linked arms with Foley, and Rimmer and Morrison as others who had been present. He thought Rammer had been the first to strike Foley. Constailes Borland and Adam stated that when they came on the scene Rimmer and Morrison were assaulting McKenzie. and Rudder and Baines were standing over Foley. Foley appeared to have been drinking.

Two special constables stated that they were attracted to the soene'by the noise, and on McKenzie's calling out, they followed Rudder, Baines, White and McKenna, and kept them under observation until they were arrested in an -hotel.

Mr. A. E. Skelton called no -evidence respecting Morrison, Rimmer, White, Baines and McKenna, but called a barman from the Waitemata Hotel, who stated that so far as he knew, Rudder had been in the bar of the "Waitemata Hotel all the evening in question until he was arrested.

This morning the Magistrate gave his decision, convicting Rimmer and Morrison of both assaults, and the others of assaulting Foley. For an assault of such a nature imprisonment was the only punishment, and -the strike feeling was an aggravation rather than otherwise. Still, he would take into consideration the fact that the men had already been 10 days in gaol, and would sentence them all to 14 days' further imprisonment