LYTTELTON NEWS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16118, 24 January 1918, Page 9

LYTTELTON NEWS

4 PERSONAL. On the occasiou of liia beiug transferred to Christchurch, on promotion, Constablo J. Bickerdyke yas preseuted by Senior-Sergeant Jackson, on behalf of the Lytlelton Police, with a silver-mounted umbrella. HARBOUR, LIGHT PICTURES. Jho drama, "Big Tremaine," supported by tho secoud episode of the serial film. "The Master Key," and a clever Christie comedy, was shown Rt the local picture theatre at yesterday's sessions for the last time. Tonight s leading picture is a powerful Partvmount service film entitled "Sleeping Fires." LAUNCHING OF THE RONA. A !' m^. cT , °' people interested in shipping and the fishing industry gathered yesterday afternoon at, Jliller Bros.' slip, at the dockliead, to witness the launching of the new motor trawier Ron®, built locally for Libcrata Meo, of Wellington. The christeningceremony was performed by Mrs A. Miller and refreshments were provided in tho Matshed by the owner. The Rona will go for a cruiso round the harbour this afternoon in order "to tost her engine. ' MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Tlie Lytlelton Magistrates Court was crowded yesterday morning, whon Walter hcott, Charlos Joseph Stone, and Thomas Donovan appeared beforo Mr J. S. Middle- «' , and Ca P uin P. Hatchwell, J.P., after having been three times remanded on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Carlo Guabello Bartholomeo, an Italian fisherman. The three accused pleaded not guilty. Mr Cassidy appeared for Donovan, and Mr Hunt for Stone aud Scott. Bartholomeo, giving evidence, stated that ho had visited' Mis Scott ou the afternoon of Deceraber Slst. About 6.30 p.m. the same day ho had fired eomo crackers within a hundred yards of Scott's house, and at about 12.30 a.m. on New Year's Day he again went to the house, this time armed with a heavy iron poker. Witnoss was admitted into the house by Mrs Scott, and a fracas occurred between witness and the three accused, who were in tho house at the time, he being finally pushed out of the house and again assaulted 011 the road, where ho was left in a bleeding and battered condition. After lying on the road for about three-quarters of an hour, he managed to grope his way to a house occupied by I!ts Motz, where, n't some previous period, witneas had lodged. He identified the throe accused us the men who had committed the assault. Witness admitted having previously served two years' imprisonment for setting fire to a house, aoidnlso a short sentence for failing to pay a fin© for breaking his prohibition order. Mrs Motz gave evidence that the man had come to her house early on New Year's Day, and seeing that ho was injured and was then standing in a pool of blood, witness hud him conveyed to the Casualty Ward. Dr. J. A. stated that he had been callod at a-bout 3 a.rn. on New Year's Day to attend Bartholomeo at tho Casualty Ward, and found five wounds on the man's face and scalp, each requiring from one to three 6titchc3. One of the wounds had exposed the skull. The nasal bone wan broken, there was an effusion of blood from the eyelids, and contusion on the back of the right shoulder and side. Without further examination ho was unable to judge whether the man would contract visional troubles as a result of his injuries. The patient's condition being serious, he was removed to the Christchurch Hospital, from which he was discharged last Sunday, apparently having made good progress towards recovery. Constablo Bickerdyke stated that he had gone in company with Constable Hodgins to Scott's house, in Ticehurst road, at 2.30 a.m. on January. Ist. • Scott and Donovan were in the house. Scott showed witness the poker, which was lying alongside a handkerchief in a pool of blood, in the gutter, about 50 yards from tbo bouse, and which had been used, it was alleged, by Bartholomeo, to break all the windows in the front of Scott's house. Witness notioed blood on Scott's right shoe, and this Scott explained might havo occurred when he kicked Bartholomeo.

Constable Hod gins gave corroborative evidence. Mr Caseidy 6aid that Bartliolomoo's bad record' and his actions in the present case '.verc not such a3 to inspire confidence or credence in bifl statements. The facts were that Bartholomeo bad returned to Scott's House after having- been ordered to keep away. Ho had annoyed the three accused by firing crackers in the vicinity of the house, and finally bad arrived at the premises with a pokex, with which he smashed the windows and forced his way inside the house. The Bench, under these circumstances, he contended, could only dismiss the case. Mr Hunt also requested the Bench to dismiss the caee, or at least, to reduce the charge "to one of common, assault. After a ten minutes' retirement, the Bench decided "that the case was not one for the SuDreme Court, and accordingly reduced the char"o to common assault, to which the accused pleaded guilty, and were each convicted and fined £2, the Bench remarking that, the affair was a disgraceful drunken brawl.