A NIGHT AFFRAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 95, 19 October 1910, Page 8

A NIGHT AFFRAY.

ALLEGED BREAKING, ENTERING, ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY. An affray at 70, Cambrddgce-terrace on the night of the 3rd October resulted ia the appearance of four men — James Vincent Cummins, Charles Reston, Johni Lewie, .aliae Lindsay, alias Newibon, and Charles Cunranghaim — at the- Magistrate's Court to-da,y, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. The four were charged jointly with having broken and entered by night the dwellinghouse of Mary Spenoer, at 70, Cambridge-terrace, on, the 4th October, and stolen a rolled gold watch, a gold chain, a silver match-box, a gold-mounted shark's tooth, and 9s 6d in money, the property of Thomas Davidson ; also a pair of boots valued at £1 ss, the property of A. Hall. Another information charged defendants with having assaulted Peter Wdlson, and robbed him of 6s in money. Chief-De-tective Bxoberg proseouted, and accused were not represented by counsel. Mary Spencer, who kept a boardinghouse at 70, Cambridge-terrace, said a friend named Davidson called at the house on the night in question, and was shortly afterwards joined by a man named ' Hall. The weather was rough and stormy, and witness suggested that the viFitors should stay the night j tßis they' did. A man named Peter Wilson called at the house just before, the others went to bed, and he went to sleep on a couch in the dining room. After they went to bed the house was locked up securely, and witness herself retired about 11.45. Some time later one of the boarders called out to witness — about 12.20. Witness went into the diningroom and caw Wilson's mouth bleeding. Wilson said he did not know Who did it; he appeared dazed, but complained to witness. None of the four accused had any right to be in the house on the night in question. Further evidence was given by Thomas Davidson, a boilermaker residing at 44, Taranaki-street, that he went to Mrs. Spencer's house to see a boarder whom he knew as "Alf." It being a I wild night and not having a coat, he | decided to sleep there, and he shared a bed with Hall. When he woke up in the morning he missed about 9s 6d from his trousers pocket, and a gold watch, shark's tooth, gold chain, and silver matchbox, worth about £17, from his vest. Peter Wilson, engineer, residing at 73, Cambridge-terrace, said he was sober on the night he slept on the couch at Mrs. Spencer's boarding-house. Someone punched .him on the face; witness said, "You needn't murder a man : I have only got 6s 6d, and here it is." His left-hand trousers pocket had been puHed out by someone. Witness received a black eye, his face was swollen, his mouth cut, and a tooth broken. Witness could not identify any of the four accused. A labourer named Joseph Manning, boarding at the house, said he was awakened at midnight. He saw Cunningham and Lewis standing over Wrlson ; the other two accused were close by. Lewis blew the candle out. Witness identified Crimmins and Cunningham at the police station, Lewis some time after. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Cameron, and John Williamson, a boarder. During the hearing, the four accused in turn subjected the witnesses to an extensive cross-examination, with the object of disproving certain evidence ; Cunningham said that their object in going to the house was to obtain beer, and he alleged that beer had been obtained there before. # All four accused reserved their defence, pleaded not guilty, and asked for bail, which was fixed in the sum of £100 and two sureties of £50 each in • the case of each defendant.