CONFLICTING STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 10

CONFLICTING STORIES.

ASSAULT CHARGES TAXU

Charges of assaulting Mary Burdett and Frank Abbott Burdett, preferred, against Daniel Stevenson, waterside worker (49), before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, were dismissed. It was alleged that on the evening of February 4 Stevenson, who had one of two adjoining flats in Dean Street, Ponsonby, had assaulted Mr. and Mrs. Burdett, who occupied the adjoining flat. The assault, it was alleged, had been committed in the yard which was ehared by the parties, Mrs. Burdett receiving a broken ankle. She complained that she had been thrown down and kicked by the accused while endeavouring to prevent him striking her husband. Burdett was not injured, but Stevenson, it was stated, suffered w-ounde on the ecalp, shoulder and hand.

Burdett and his wife alleged that Stevenson wae the aggressor, but Stevenson denied this. He said he was first threatened by Burdett,. and then Mrs. Burdett appeared from inside the house and hit him with a piece of wood. He denied that he had pushed her down.

The magistrate said he could not hold on the evidence that it was anything but a fall which had caused the fracture to Mre.* Burdett's ankle. All the other injuries had been suffered by Stevenson.'

A charge of assault so as to cause actual- bodily harm was not proceeded with against Steveneon, the police offering no evidence.