"WAKE UP, CHARLIE!"

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 133, 5 June 1914, Page 2

"WAKE UP, CHARLIE!"

TALE OF A .I—ST— EBBED * SLUMBER. " V --.-■• " ____.--. " OMINOUS. AUCKLAND INCIDENT. WOMAN'S SERIOUS IN.TUKTES. ' I imping with the aid- of-a stick iutq "be VucklanYl Supreme Cmirt this morn_a Lena Fanner,; a.. JKilig woman, residtl ,2 in- Montague .Street.told a singular utoiv to his Honor Mr Justice Stringer, ii,: fclatiott to a/chnrge against Charlo« Armstrong, a smartly-dressed young man, late of Cook street, of causing actual bndilv harm. Prisoner smilingly pleaded "Not guilty," and continued, to wear an' amused throughout the hearing. The story told by the Crown Prosecutor (the l'lon. .1..A. J'ple).. and borne out by the -pTbstfutriV; who described herself ae.a domestic, was that Fenner, who livecl'wit-h a man named Fuller, was friendly with a young woman known lo familiars as "Tottic" (Jaeey. who resided with the' prisoner in Cook Street. Oil the 19th November Casey had a difference of opinion with Armstrong, which resulted . ill' the. woman deciding to part company with him. -In the even? ing Casey wanted -some articles of clothing from Cook Street, and sent fief friend round on her behalf. THE AWAKENING. Knocking at the door, Kenner received no answer, and thereupon She; ;J>aßsed through, to the . bedroom,' where she lound the prisoner lying asleep. . v She advanced to the bed, and called out '•Charlie, wake up." Armstrong, who was wearing his boots, promptly sprang off the bed and commenced to violently bela,bour tbe disturber of his slumbers. Ho struck her in.the face, and kicked her with such force that he broke her ankle-boil c and shin-bone- She screamed, bopped on one leg to the door, and wis assisted downstairs by n man who came to the rescue. She was subsequently removed in a cab to I>r. Bernardi's surgery, whence she was taken to the" Hospital.:.She was there found to be suffering frd_ 'extensive bruises about the •face and bead, and iv a generally distressed condition. Her (not was com«le.tcjy_ turned round aJid hanging Jiplptew. "When the screams of the woman attracted attention, said Mr Tole, someiwie called to the prisoner inquiring what was the matter. But truthfully he repJied that it was only a drunken woman, who was a bit hysterical.

Afterwards, however, he explained that be struck her, thinking that it was the truant "Tot" returned, and -admitted tusfp h'c"had"given hor-what '•he-'•—tjled &;?£— - good punch.",. \ lJd_>i,;li'tf r t-d someone that he had' broken:- the woman's leg, and was "going to sling his book." Ho apparently gave effect, to liU expression, for he was arrested in Weiliug'to—-

Answering questions, by. Mr It. A. Singer, who- appeajed .for Armstrong, Penner strenuously contended that She Was not and. that her refreshments.., during the whole of that day were limited ;to three drinks.-' She also-averred that on 'Waiting* AiWgStrjSOg she told him that —Tot" -wanted to speak to him. The prisoner might have been drunk, but she . did not know whether or not he thought someone was robbing bim. ■ Mr'Singeri Didn't you.touch him". Witness:' Noi Didn't you p_t yotff hatfil on life wa'teft and chain?-—No. - -

Witness knew tliat Aimatrong's explanation was that he woke up in the dark and felt someone at his •watch and chain. Tie turned over sharply,,the mattress fell-off the -bed, and, trapping the nocturnal • v—itotSi legi broke it. -Mbo" admitted tna't she "Hail been ' convicted twice in Ghristchur— 1, but on both occasions the charges arose out of her associating with Artastrong. '. . ,' LNJURED. FOEpbJjFE. Dr. Magnire and Dr. "Abbott, of the Hospital staff,'gave evidence as-to the ■woman's injuries, both expressing the opinion that they not have been caused in tlie manner-suggested by the prisoner. The former added that in his opinion I'enner was intoxicated. He did not think the ankle would ever be right again. .' ,

'.Wilson Jlagan, who was paasiiig, the lrbUfe at. the time of the disturbance; and assisted the injured woman, said that when he subsequently interviewed Armstrong and nuked him if he was aware that ''Mrs _ Pullen's" leg «n broken,-he replied in the negative, addthe, observation about the. " punch,'' and explaining" thaVelie" injured her leg by falling over, a box. ,

A photographer named Edward RoulBton, who was a neighbour of the prisoner, described how he beard the screams of the woman, and appealed to _._--e!.l_ercjits to be. quiet. Imme -. dialely afterwards.Fonngr -hopped on to the verandah; and called out "You'll help rac,'kid, won't you?"—an appeal to which he promptly" capitulated. He did not think, prisoner wa«> : wearing his boats, and- the woman.- referring to Arnv sfrbflg, 'j&H; "Tie. -hurt' do: it.:,, Jt" was not Si- fjult." Recalled, the woman, re, piidistrtl thus statement. "

-RorKrt .JoW I'trlleji .saitl. tliat' he mci Armislrot'x; on the evening gf Novcntbcr: 19. ami ;.-:cd him if he had ftfenLena.

"Yea: 1 live broken her- Jeg." he plied, finr explained that, thinking it was '.r.-t,'* be had pushed-her. and she fell or-jtetfte ibox- He addeil that"'he wa,= going to- "take hiri .hook-.:- - -

f*iective John Cameron, of Wellington, who" arrested the prisoner on l>ecember 16, stated that in reply7to the charge Armstrong sa jd. "You, have no chance of getting mc for'" that. T will tell you the strength of it,"' The "strengtir' -was the explanation about the falling mattress. ' /

Addressing the jury Mr Kinder contended that the prisoner was in a drunken .sleep, and, waking f_ .'»' halfdazed condition, .thought somebody was robhin ? him,-and, in the semi-darkness, 'trnck out. The woman fell and injured her leg On the mattress.

. I mc |„ry retired before the luncheon interval, ana shortly before 3 returned a verdict that'lhe'prismier was guilty of aseaUTt, bu't'fliat he 'lid. not. intend tphnfliet such Severe injuries Upon the- ijnuman, •«-■• Sentence ■of 12 months' hard labour was imposed. • - " -