WHIP ARGUMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 216, 12 September 1930, Page 5

WHIP ARGUMENT.

TROUBLE AT WAIHEKE.

POLICE COURT SEQUEL FAPvM manager sued. WOMAN'S CLAIM UNSUCCESSFUL. The sequel to a disturbance that temporarily upset the sylvan serenity of Wailieke Island, on July 16, was heard before Mr. E. C., Cutten, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Lily Wright, married, brought action .for £30 damages, on the ground of assault, against Francis R. Matthews, farm manager. Mr. W. H. Cocker appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Allan Moody (instructed by Mr. J. J. Sullivan) for defendant. Plaintiff alleged that she was struck on the face by Matthews with a riding whip. The defence was that, in the course of a tussle, Mrs. Wright snatched at the whip, and that the thong flew up and hit her. After hearing a considerable amount of evidence for both sides, the 1 magistrate gave judgment for defendant, and allowed costs for his witnesses. Woman's Allegations. Mrs. Wright said Matthews came to the house where she was living, and demanded money that lie alleged was owing for some ploughing work. He stood on the steps of the hoikse, and struck her with a stockwhip he was carrying. She tried to get the whip away from him, but it slipped through her fingers before she could secure it. i She was quite confident that he had struck her twice before this. He said, "Get in, your dirty , or I'll put it across you again." There were marks on her face. After she was struck she called him a dirty wretch, and told him to get off the place. She then went down to the City Mission children's camp, and saw Mr. Davies, the caretaker. When she got there Mr. Davies gave her water, and assisted her round to the place where her husband was working. At the time she told Matthews he would suffer for it, and that she would put the police on him. Mr. Moody: Of course, from what I can gather, you are a ladylike sort of person. Witness: I don't know what you mean. Just what do you want from defendant? Do you want money, or what is it?—l want to put him up on a pedestal for other women. Well, why didn't you get the police? —They would not take it up. Anyhow, I don't see why I should have to go through all this.

What was your intention when you grabbed the whip?—l wanted to get hold of it so that I could hit him. Mr. Moody: So that was the big idea; we have a real reason for it now. George Owen Davies, caretaker of the Oneroa Beach Children's Camp, said he saw Mrs. Wright- after the incident occurred. He gave her a drink of water and when she had revived, she said she wanted to go down to see her husband before a Mr. -— saw him. She had a bruise on the side of her face, which was also marked with red and white weals. Replying to Mr. Moody, witness said he had only once previously spoken to Mr. Matthews. From what he knew of him he was a quiet and inoffensive man.

Raymond Alexander Wright, husband of plaintiff, said on July 16 he was one of a working bee that was preparing land for cultivation by school children. His attention was first attracted by Davies, the last witness, who was coming along the top road, gesticulating. He then saw that his wife was with Davies, and ran lip to see what was the matter. He found that she was badly bruised about the face. Replying to Mr. Moody, witness said there had been a question about money owing for ploughing. "Highly Excitable." Mr. Moody said Mrs. Wright was of a highly excitable nature. Matthews had called at the house where she was living to inquire about the money that was owing to him. Mrs. Wright told him her husband- was not at home. She said he was somewhere near the school. He wanted the matter settled, as he was leaving Waiheke that day. She said she had no money, and told him to get out of the gate, calling him a "dirty wretch." She made a grab at his whip, and the consequence was that the thong flew up and struck her in the face. There was a struggle for possession of the whip. Mr. Cutten, in summing up, said a strong inferei.ee ,could be drawn from the fact that plaintiff followed defendant after the disturbance had occurred. Ii she had been really frightened, she would not have done so. He had no hesitation in giving judgment for defendant.

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