SEVERE THRASHING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 48, 28 February 1929, Page 13

SEVERE THRASHING

IMPOSED ON A BROTHER

STOCKWHIP USED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

An admission that he had thrashed his brother with a doubled stockwhip so severely that he was in bed for _a week was made in the Kaitaia Magistrate's Court yesterday by Edward Howell, of Takahue. Howell was fined £10.

"The evidence discloses a very brutal assault," said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to Howell, who was charged with assaulting his brother Luke by striking him on the back with a stockwhip and kicking him on tho head.

I'or the defenco it was stated that the father was dead, and tho accused had been bringing up the family. Another brother was mental, and accused considered that he had to keep a sharp eye on Luke. A thrashing had been administered because of repeated thefts from a neighbour's garden.

Iv evidence the accused said that he doubled the lash and handle together and thrashed his brother's bare back. "I brought some blood," he admitted, "but not much."

William C. Kirtlan, farmer, a neighbour, of tho Howell family, testified to the excellent name held by the accused. Luke had stolen things from witness's garden, but the latter had never complained, as he knew that the accused was sensitive about the family name.

The Magistrate expressed amazement that anyone could so far forget the code of ordinary kindness, even supposing that he did stand in loco parentis. There was little mitigation, he thought, except the accused's good character and the fact that he was trying to bring up his brothers and sisters. Ho had seriously considered gaol, but in view of the good police report of the accused's character he would inflict a fino of £10.