COWARDLY ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 156, 20 March 1923, Page 5

COWARDLY ASSAULT

“NEARLY AN INQUEST” YOUNG MEN SENT TO GAOL Cowardly interference with a man ninny years their senior at Courtenay Place on Saturday night led to the appearance before Mr- F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate s Court yesterday morning of two young nien, Stanley King and Stewart Fraser, who were charged with assaulting William Isaac Wellan. Tho original charge against Fraser alleged the causing ot actual bodily harm, but after the evidence of the complainant was hoard it was reduced to one of common assault, and the cases were taken to-geScirior-Sorgeant Lander prosecuted, and Mr. P. W. Jackson represented tho accused, who denied the charge. The complainant, whose forehead bore the marks of a heaw blow or fall, told the Court that- he had never seen either of the young men before. He did not remember being assaulted. The prelude to the actual assault was described by' Fletcher M alter Faber, who said that he had noticed Fraser standing near "Wellan m a tram-car, which was proceeding from Karori to Courtenay Place. Phe complainant and Fraser appeared to bd shaking hands, and the latter was heard to say: “If you can take hfvt riirn- on my little finger, you can have it.” Wellan, said witness, was too muddled to do or say anything and Fraser, assisted by King, was seen essaying to throw the older man off the car. The intervention of the conductor saved matters, but upon the arrival of the car at its destination the men followed "Wellan. Fraser declaring that he wanted to fight him. The old man,” added witness, did not fio-hb. but tried to get away. I saw blood flowing from his nose, but I had not then seen any blow struck. Mellan sat down on a seat, and as soon as he got up Fraser, much to mv surprise, struck him a tremendous blow on ihe head, which felled him like an ox. 1 at first thought he was dead. A crowd then pursued the men. who had taken to their heels in the direction of Oriental Bay. William Denby stated that when the car arrived at Courtenay Place King danced round the complainant, and hit him on the nose, .after which he Onjoined Fraser to strike the man, and not to be a coward. ‘‘Fraser stepped in,” said witness, “and gave the man a blow which felled him. It was one >of the most cowardiv assaults I have ever seen, and it’s a wonder to me that "Wellan is alive to-day.” Evidence was also oiven by Sergeant Ponder and Constab’e Pellew. Fraser and King both elected to give evidence on oath. The former maintained that he thought Wellan was going to strike him, while the latter’s version of his share was that he had merely pushed the man when he was a passenger in the tram-car. His Worship was not satisfied with the accounts, and stated that both accused would he convicted. “Any leniency I might have shown.” he added, “is gone, since both of roti went into the box and committed perjury. _ It is this sort of occurrence that gives occasion for an inquest. A month with hard labour.”