TWO CHARGES OF ASSAULT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22418, 3 June 1938, Page 4

TWO CHARGES OF ASSAULT

ATTACK ON ONE-ARMED MAN KICKED AND PUNCHED IN CITY STREET Assault and robbery was admitted by two youths who appeared before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They pleaded guilty to this charge and were remanded to appear in the Supreme Court for sentence.' They were also charged with another assault, and though they pleaded not guilty, were convicted and remanded for sentence until June 24. The youths were William Hamilton Noonan, of Richmond, for whom Mr C. V. Quigley appeared, and Douglas William Barlow, of Waltham, who was represented by Mr H. W. Hunter. The police case was conducted by Detective-Sergeant T. E. Holmes. Harry Alva Cedric Hardaker.' a labourer of Salisbury street, said that about 6.30 p.m. on May 28 he was sitting on a seat in Victoria square. The two accused were sitting on the same seat. They accused him of using bad language, which they said Noonan’s mother would hear as she was sitting in a car quite close by. Witness went with them towards Queen Victoria's statue, but could see no trace of Noonan’s mother or the car in which she was supposed to be. All three walked up Armagh street towards the Provincial Council chambers. When they got to the iron gate just over the bridge Noonan hit witness on the side of the head, on the nose, and on the mouth. Witness fell after being struck, but before he fell the two accused went through his pockets. After this they hit ; him again in the face and made oft round the Provincial Council chambers. A parcel, a newspaper, two shillings in money, a knife, some rosary beads, and half a tin of tobacco, which he had in his pockets, were taken by the accused. Witness was treated as an outpatient in the Christchurch Public Hospital, where it was found that his nose had been broken. He denied having used any obscene language, and had done nothing to provoke the assault. To Mr Quigley witness said that he did not think that Noonan was drunk. Acting-Detective D. G. M. Simpson said that he took a statement from Barlow in which he had said that he was an unemployed farm labourer. He had taken Is 7d from tha complainant’s pockets. After the assault he had gone to a dance at West Melton. Detective S. W. Cunningham said that he had interviewed Noonan, an apprentice carpenter at the Addington workshops, who said that he had struck complainant two or three times with his clenched fist. Barlow, he said, had not hit Hardaker. Noonan and Barlow pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The Second Fracas The other assault charge brought against the two youths, both of whom were less than 20 years old, concerned an attack on an elderly one-armed man in New Regent street about 9.45 one evening. Alaric Joyce, the complainant, said that the youths had had some drink. Barlow had held him by the coat, and would not let him go so witness had kicked him on the shins. The two of them had then rushed at him, one kicking him and the other punching him. One of them had later thrown his books at him. He followed them into Gloucester street, and down Manchester street to Worcester street, and Latimer square. Barlow had then rushed at him and had rolled him over on to the grass. Barlow’s attack was so rough, said the witness, that Noonan had wanted to fight him to make him leave the witness alone. To Mr Hunter witness said that both were fairly drunk. Detective Cunningham said that Barlow was later arrested for drunkenness. Barlow, in a statement, which was read to the Court, said that he remembered nothing about the assault at all.

The accused were remanded to appear for sentence on June 24.