A MIXED EIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 8

A MIXED EIGHT.

WOMAN HAD THE BEST

OF IT. SEQUEL TO LITIGATION. BOTH CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. When William Preston left the Court on May 2 last, after being in litigation with a Maori named Thos. Kirkwood on a matter of wages alleged to be owing by him to the latter, he was met by Mrs. Rona Kirkwood, who had a word with him in front of the courthouse, and, like the Queen of Sheba with King Solomon, proceeded to prove him with hard questions. Preston's answers not being deemed satisfactory to her, she took the law into her own hands and struck him. William did not turn the other cheek, but gave measure for measure, with the result that they were both called in Court this morning charged with assaulting each other and behaving in a disorderly manner. Preston did not appear, and Mrs. Kirkwood pleaded not guilty. John Ed. Smith told the Bench that when the parties left the Court last Court day he. heard Kirkwood remark to Preston that he (Preston) had won the case, and suggested that they should shake hands. Preston declined, and said he would not shake hands with a black mongrel. Mrs. Kirkwood told Preston not to call her man a mongrel, and she slapped him on the face. Preston took no notice of this, but when she delivered a second blow he hit her. Kirkwood gave evidence on behalf of his wjfe. He said he did not see her strike Preston, but he saw Preston strike her all right. (Laughter.) Mrs. Kirkwood went into the box and gave her version of the affair with many tears. Preston then arrived in Court, and gave his account of the affray. Kirkwood, he said, grabbed his hand after the previous case and wanted him to shake hands. As he refused, Mrs. Kirkwood caught one of his hands and threatened to bite his fingers off if he did not comply with her husband's request. She had a fair set of teeth. A man named Welle stepped in between them and saved his hand from her teeth. Mrs. Kirkwood knocked his hat off, then sent his cigarette flying out of his mouth, and finally slapped him in the face over the eyes, which nearly blinded him. He called Constable Jones to take her away after the second blow. He admitted having called Kirkwood a mongrel, but denied using the adjective "black." Mr. J. W.Poynton, S.M., ruled that Preston was at fault. He should have accepted Kirkwood'a suggestion of peace. If he had done so, the present trouble would not have occurred. Preston was convicted and fined £2, with 60/ costs, half the fine to go to Mrs. Kirkwood. For assaulting Preston Mrs. Kirkwood was convicted and discharged. Both the other charges were dismissed.