FOOTBALLER ASSAULTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 6

FOOTBALLER ASSAULTED.

FRACAS IN HOTEL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Palmerston North, August 19. Mr. Justice Chapman to-day heard three charges against Vincent O'Neill and Howard Webby of assaulting John Stalker. Tho charges were: (1) Assault with intent J to do bodily harm;. (2) assault resulting j in bodily 1 harm; (3) assault. Tho case excited much interest, as O'Neill is a j well-known horse trainer, ond Stalker was at one time a Now Zealand represonf.irivo I footballer, and is now living in l'nltneri ston North. It was alleged that tho nssmilt occurred I in a local hotel, "where Stalker has his ; meals. Stalker's evidence was that he > had endeavoured to stavo off a,ro\v, and - that ho had been assaulted and kjurod. J Tlie defence was that Stalker 'had given t O'Neill provocation when the latter had r entered tho hotel bar, and had attacked , him first. Webby was alleged to have p joined in tho attack, both on Stalker and on another man who attempted to intert A verdict was returned of "Guilty" . against O'Neill on the last two counts, I with a strong recommendation to mercy, i The Judgo passed a seoitcneo of threo months' hard labour. A verdict of 'not 3 guiltty , was returned against Webby.