UNPROVOKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 10

UNPROVOKED.

■ s "COWARDLY" ASSAULT YOUNG WOMAN STRUCK. MAORI LABOURER FINED. An unprovoked assault committed on a young woman in the early hours of morning caused a Maori named Matenga Tukareaho (30), a labourer, to appear before Mr. C. R. *Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court today. Tukareaho, for whom Mr. Aekins appeared, pleaded guilty.

Sub-Inspector Fox said the complainant, a young woman, occupied a room in a Vincent Street apartment house where Tukareaho lived with the landlady as man and wife. About 2 o'clock yesterday morning Tukarenho knocke'd on the door of complainant's room, and when she opened it he entered and ordered her to leave the house, stating that she had not paid her rent. The young woman had not long returned to the house, and wag dressed at the time.

"She told this Maori that she was not dealing with him and told him to leave her room." added Mr. Fox, "whereupon he caught hold of her and struck her some blows on the face and head, and then dragged her along the passage. Other persons came to the young woman's assistance. She was not badly injured, and her mouth was bleeding. It was a cowardly assault. Tukareaho had some liquor, but was not drunk. The woman had not in any way provoked him, and she denies being in arrears for her room. Her dress was completely ruined." "Lost His Head." Mr. Aekins said his client was very sorry for what had occurred. "He says the lady he lives with is what he terms his 'common law wife.' He also says the complainant called him a 'black dago,' and that this caiMed him to lose his head. Tukareaho in one of those men who has got into trouUe since his return from the war. He left* when only 16 with the Maori Pioneers. I know his record doesn't make very good reading, but he has not been in trouble since 1930, and I would ask your Worship to consider imposing a fine upon him." Fining Tukareaho £10, or one month, for the amault, the magistrate ordered Tukareaho to pay witnesses' expenses amounting to 12/, and directed that one-third of the fine should be paid to the victim of the assault.