ATTACK BY MASKED MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 193, 13 August 1920, Page 2

ATTACK BY MASKED MEN.

CHCHAMAN ASSAULTED. ONEHUNGA CASE RECALLED. At the Supreme Court to-day, Thomas Stephen Ruhara Fletcher (Mr. Prendergast), 10, formerly residing at Princes Street, Oneh-unga, waa tried before liis Honor Mr. Justice Stringer and a jury, on a charge of having assaulted Walt .Sim, a Chinaman, with, intent to rob him. -VEr. J. A. Tole, the Crown Prosecutor, stated that the accused was in compan3' with two other men and they visited the Chinaman's house at Oneliunga one evening in April. One of them entered inrto conversation with Wall Sun about cabbages, and then struck him on tjhe •ltead with a thick stick. The allegation was bhiit the accused was present and was therefore jointly responsible. The men with wjhom the accused was associated were, Murdoch, who has been sentenced to ]2 months' jliinl labour and .1 years' reformative treatment for benzine and other thefts, at Onchunga, and for assaulting Wah Sun. and Xeven, who is undergoing -1 years reformative treatment for similar offences. Fletcher has been in custody awaiting sentence on charges of breaking and nntering and theft at Onehunga,, to w|hich he litis already pleaded guilty. Meven gave evidence that the accused accompanied him and Murdoch to Wah Sun's house, but Fletcher left them at the Chinaman's gate before the assault, and did not participate in the affray. In answer to his Honor, Seven admitted that lie and his companions set out with the avowed object of going to the Chinaman's house and attacking him. Statements made by witness were read in which N'even had stated previously that the three young men, masked themselves with handkerchiefs before going up to the house, and that tjhe accused and Murdoch were on the verandah when the assault was committed. Constable Fclton stated that while he ivas taking Seven and Fletcher to the gaol, Fletcher asked about Murdoch, remarking tjhat Murdoch had struck the Chinaman, hut that it was he who bad "stopped the crack." His Honor said it was not only law but it was eommonsensc, that if the accused was associated with other men for an unlawful purpose, |he was respon-