A COWARDLY ASSAULT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 14, 16 July 1918, Page 7

A COWARDLY ASSAULT

" This was a most cowardly and blackguardly assault," said Inspector" M&rsack at the Magistrate's Court this mornilig, referring to the charge agaiiist a young man named John Elwyti Byrne. .Outlining the- facts of the case, the Irispectc-r said that Byrnb had endeavoured to push past an. old man, Richard Carter, who was employed as ticket-collector afc Our Theatre one- night in February last. Tho old man stopped him and asked for his ticket, whereupon. Byrne.struck him in the face and rushed past, but the old man, stuck to. him, and was. again assaulted, being struck on the mouth and losing some teeth. He was then pushed dewn the stairs. The young lady from the ticket-box went to his assistance, and was treated to some very objectionable language, and finally, when the manager wa£ called, Byrne made a dash downstairs, and, jumping into a motor-car, got clear away, and nothing was seen of Mm again till, a day or two ago. Evidence was given by Carter and the ticket-seller. Defendant denied having struck the old man, but admitted having pushed him down the stairs. He was intoxicated at the time. Mr. fr. V. Prazer, S.M., said he was satisfied that a cowardly assauli had been committed* and drink was no excuse for such an action. A fine of £6. with costs (18s), was imposed. Inspectot Marsack said that no penalty for default need be fixed, as the defendant had a good sum of money in his possession when, arrested. "I am sorry I did not know that before," remarked the Magis trate, "I thought I had about reached 'the limit of his exchequer."

At the monthly meeting of the- Horowhenua County Council at Levin on Saturday .;i vote of condolence was passed to tlie Clerk (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith), who had recently-lost his father, aged 95 j years. It was stated that for 60 yeans the late Mr. Goldsmith had acted Oh local bodies—a unique record.