BAD BLOOD

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 150, 21 March 1931, Page 11

BAD BLOOD

Landlord Struck ARMISTICE SIGNED Friction between a landlord and tenant at Miramar on March 10 culminated in the tenant striking the landlord and giving him what his counsel (Mr. Sievwright) described in the Police Court yesterday as “one of the most beautiful black eyes I have ever seen in my life.” The tenant, W. Knight, a tall, athleticlooking young man, appeared to answer a charge o£ having assaulted Henry Potts. A joint memorandum to keep the peace was signed by the parties. Mr. Sievwright explained that the accused occupied a small cottage ,on the same section as the house of his landlord. Trouble arose over accused having taken some second-hand bricks without permission, and having used them as borders for a path round the cottage. Words ensued when defendant went to put his milk bottle out one morning, and ended in accused striking a man twice as old as himself, and knocking him down. The action, said counsel, had been brought to prevent such a Thing occurring in the future. The magistrate, Mr. E. Page, S.M., asked if it would not satisfy both parties if a signed undertaking were given that they would in future keep away from each other-. Mr. Ongley, who appeared for defendant, said that his client was prepared to leave the cottage the next day. His Worship then drew up the memorandum. The defendant gave an undertaking to pay 5/- a week off the arrears owing for rent. Each party was ordered to pay his own costs. Waiting at the Church “This' young man comes of a respectable, family, but unfortunately is addicted to drink, and when under the effects of liquor is inclined to be rather troublesome,” explained Sub-Inspector Lopdell when Edward Lyall Stuart, a single man, aged 23, appeared on charges of having disturbed an entertainment at Pahantanui on February 20 and having assaulted Ernest Stace the next day. Accused was fined a total of £3 on the charges. The sub-inspeetor stated that accused had gone to a dance at Pahautanui on the Saturday night, and after having had some liquor he had picked on Stace and followed him round the dance hall until be had been ejected. The next morning Stuart had waited ouside the church until the service was over, and when Stace came out of the gate of the church he had gone up to him and struck him a blow on the mouth. Racecourse Trespasser For being found unlawfully on the Hutt Park racecourse while being prohibited from attending sueh places, Keith Elford Craig, a motor-driver, was fined £5 and costa. Samuel McShane, for a similar offence, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called on. Charge of Vagrancy Francis Thomas Kennedy, a carpenter, aged 48, of Hospital Road, Blenheim, was charged with being an idle and disorderly person In that he had insufficient lawful means of support. On the application of Sub-Inspector Ward accused was remanded to appear at Picton to-day. Counsel for the defendant said that Kennedy had taken out a patent, and would be able to make a satisfactory answer to the charge.