MIXED NATIONALITIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 8

MIXED NATIONALITIES

AN ARGUMENT OVER THE WAR THE PARTIES IN COURT. ALLEGED ASSAULT. A heated argument over the war was responsible for the appearance of parties in tho Magistrate's Court to-day. John Quinn, an employee of the Telegraph Department, and his wife, Mary Quinn, sued Peter Rossella for £25 damages, the allegation being "that tho defendant, on 28th August, assaulted and beat Mary Quinn, whereby she became sick and wounded, and unable to attend to her duties, and was compelled to pay £2 7s 6d medical expenses, which sum the plaintiffs claim as special damages." Mixed nationalities, living in the same j house, was said to be the cause of the trouble. Mr. R. B. Williams appeared for plaintiffs and Mr. P. W. Jackson for defendant. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., was on the Bench. Mary Quinn stated that on the night' j in question, after an argument over the war, defendant jarimed her between the door and the wall and kicked her. She called him "a low Austrian coward," and this did not improve his temper. He kickea plafritiff on the elbow, inflicting a rather severe injury, which necessitated medical atfention. To Mr. Jackson: She had known Mr. Roesella for a number of years. Everything the house belonged to him, and he paid Bs, per week for his board. She admitted calling him "a cowardly Austrian," but that was after the first blow has been struck. She did not know he was a Montenegrin. She was not drunk when Rossella jammed her in tho front door, nor was ho drunk. I suggest to you thaD the injuries were the result of a quarrel with your husband — that he inflicted them. — I beg your pardon ! I beg your pardon ! On the night in question did not you break a plate over the head of your husband?—No, I did not You are quite sure that you and your husband do not quarrel ? — Yes. My husband never places a hand on me. Dr. Tolhurst gave evidence as to the nature of Mrs. Quinn's injuries, and stated that plaintiff's general health had suffered. Eric Doull, a small boy, related what he saw of the trouble at the front door of defendant's house. He saw defendant kick Mrs. Quinn. Defendant was called, and stated that he_ was not an Austrian, but a Montenegrin. , He had lived in Wellington for 36 years,. On the 28th August Mr. Quinn arrived home drunk, and Mrs. Quinn called him "an Irish ." Witness went to his room and Mrs. Quinn followed, stating : "You Austrian ! Why don't you take my part?" He replied that she was to blame for the trouble. The row between Mr. and Mrs. Quinn continued until early on Saturday morning. There was no argument about the war, as suggested. It was just a family row between the Quinns. They were always fighting. There was a big row regularly every second Friday — pay day. Mrs. Quinn frequently made use of bad language," she could not deny that. Mrs. Quinn had broken all the crockery, which was left lying about. He had never in his life struck Mrs. Quinn. Harry Tonka also gave evidence for the defendant. • In giving judgment Mr. Riddell commented, on the fact that Mr. Quinn 'had not been called, but Mr. Williams said that he was ill in the Hospital. His Worship said his -a*rlence would make some difference as to the amount of damages awarded. . The only evidence bearing on the assault was given by the parties affected and by the boy. The latter gave his evidence very clearly, and "on it judgment must be for plaintiff. The_ amount claimeel was, however, excessive. Judgment would be entered for £7 23, with costs, which brought the total to £12 16s.