Man Fined £40 For Assault

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30984, 14 February 1966, Page 13

Man Fined £40 For Assault

fN.Z. Press Association) KAIKOHE, Feb. 13. A sharemilker was fined £4O in the Rawene Magistrate’s Court on Friday for assaulting a man who had worked for him intermittently for 14 years. George Dawson, aged 47, of Waimamaku, South Hokianga, pleaded not guilty before Mr N. M. Izard, S.M. The Court was told that the complainant, Frederick Herbert Alexander, aged 49, had never received any wages—only clothes, food and occasional pocket money. The charge related to an alleged incident on or about January 12. Alexander had been admitted to Hokianga Hospital at Rawene on January 16 with head and body lacerations and badly swollen legs. Alexander told the Court he had been hit across the head and body with V-belts and straps, and had been punched in the face and generally knocked about by Dawson, •‘the man I was working for.” He could give no reason for the treatment, “As I had always done my best for Mr Dawson.”

To Mr G. G. Dragicevich, council for Dawson, Alexander denied ever drinking “meths” or ever being subject to epilepsy. John Tolfer Gray, medical superintendent at Rawene Hospital, said that when admitted Alexander had a general appearance of emaciation and neglect, was dirty, and had lacerations and abrasions about his eyes.

To the prosecutor, Sergeant R. J. Bell, Gray said the abrasions and lacerations were consistant with being hit by V-belts. He told Mr Dragicevich that Alexander, still a hospital patient, had never shown signs of epilepsy. James William Rouse, a constable stationed at Rawene, said that when interviewed, Dawson denied ever having

struck Alexander, asserting the injuries had been received during an epileptic fit. “Dawson said he had never paid Alexander a proper wage as he was quite useless, but had fed and clothed him, and had supplied smokes and pocket money during the years he had worked for him,” said Rouse. “Dawson told me that Alexander was quite mental and he thought he should really be in a home.” In evidence Dawson said Alexander often had “turns” when he would throw himself down and dash his head against the ground. “To the best of my knowledge, there are no V-belts or straps lying round my cowshed," he said. To Sergeant Bell, Dawson said Alexander “just came to us at Omanaia 15 years ago.” He was not given a job but was offered a home. “He has earned his keep, but has never earned wages. We tried to give him a home.” Convicting Dawson, the Magistrate said there was no evidence whatsoever of epilepsy, but there was strong evidence of an assault. He said he would not impose a term of imprisonment because it was Dawson’s first Court appearance and because he had five young children.