ASSAULT CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 9

ASSAULT CHARGE

CASE AGAINST STRIKER

THE BENEFIT, OF THE DOUBT •

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CARTERTON, This Day. Several cases arising from the disturbance which took place at the Club Hotel, Carterton, on the afternoon o£ Saturday, 14th January, between unionists and free labourers, were dealt with in the Carterton Magistrate's Court yesterday. Kenneth Page, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with assaulting Edward Joseph by striking him on the head with a 'stick. It was stated in evidence for the prosecution that on the afternoon of 14th January some unionists and free labourers were in the hotel, and as the result of some words, two of the party tame to blows. This , was promptly stopped, and a little later further trouble arose outside in the hotel yard, a free labourer named Edward Joseph being hit on the head with a stick, inflicting a wound on the head one and a half inches long. It was alleged against Page that he was the person who assaulted Joseph. Evidence was called to show that Page was present when Joseph was struck. Tor the defence, it was denied that Page was. in the Club Hotel that afternoon. He admitted being in the Marquis Hotel and returning to Masterton by the Eed Car at 4.30, and evidence was called to substantiate his statement that he was in Masterton at 5 o'clock, which was about the time the astsault took place. After reviewing the evidence, the Magistrate, Mr..'J. Miller, said that a doubt existed as to identification, and he gave the defendant the benefit, dismissing the information. Kdgar Willis Wilton, for fighting, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 6ix months. A similar information against Robert Hadfield was dismissed. . Wilton and,C. R. McCormick, for.using insulting words; were each fined £5 and costs. -