SICK MAN IN DOCK

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 259, 28 July 1932, Page 10

SICK MAN IN DOCK

Attacked a Storekeeper LENIENCY RECOMMENDED Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, July 27. In the Supreme Court to-day, Charles Frederick Ammon, aged 42 years,; was found guilty of causing bodily harm to William Whyte. His Honour Mr. Justice Ostler deferred sentence until to-morrow morning. William Whyte, a storekeeper in Ruahine Street, was in his shop on the night of May 26, when accused came into his shop with the intention of paying an account. Ammon, it was alleged, asked for a cheque form, which Whyte procured for him, and on _ accused’s request commenced to fill it in. As he was doing so he was struck on the head by a hammer and fell on to a nearby fruit-stand. Accused then commenced to come around the counter, brandishing the hammer, but when Whyte spoke to him he threw the hammer at him and ran out of the shop. •. Ammon’s defence was mistaken identity, and produced witnesses to say that he was at home on the night it was alleged he had committed the fISSRUIt* “I cannot help thinking the verdict of the jury, including its recommendation to leniency, is a proper one.” remarked his Honour. “It puts me in a difficult position, because a crime of violence cannot go unpunished, yet it is a fact that this man is seriously ill-’’ His Honour deferred sentence until to-morrow morning, and gave permission for accused to be taken to a hospital immediately for surgical treatment.