ISLANDER ASSAULTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 11

ISLANDER ASSAULTED

AFFAIR IN HOUSE

ONE MAN CONVICTED

Three men appeared in the Magistrate's Court, today, before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., charged with assaulting Eveitt Boyd, a Pitcairn Islander, but only one was convicted, the charges against the other two being dismissed by the Magistrate after evidence had been heard. William Hector Sedgwick was convicted and fined £5 and costs for assault, and for a breach of a prohibition order he was convicted and fined £2. William Tait and Albert George Lindley, who both denied assaulting Boyd, had the charges against them dismissed.

Eveitt Boyd, in evidence, said that he was in the house where he stayed in Boulcott Street at about 6.30 p.m. on March 23, and men he knew as "Doc" (Lindley), "Tall Bill" (Tait), and "Short Bill" (Sedgwick) were there. "Doc" and "Tall Bill" went away, and "Short Bill" stayed" behind. He described an alleged incident which resulted in one of the men telling Sedgwick to get out. Sedgwick was put out by Mr. Christensen. Later, all three returned, and all seemed to "get going" on him, hauling him along the passage, and kicking and striking him. "Short Bill" and ,"Doc" struck him, while "Tall Bill" held him. They were sober, but they were angry. As a result of what happened he saw a doctor, who treated him for his injuries. He did not give these men any cause to treat him as they did.

Questioned by Mr. M. G. Neal, counsel for the accused, witness said that "Tall Bill" and "Doc" lived at the house. When they came back with Sedgwick one of them said, "Who hit my cobber?"

Re-examined by Senior-Sergeant J. Power, prosecuting, witness said that after the assault he was unconscious.

Clement Coffin, another islander, gave evidence along similar lines. He saw the struggle, he said, and stated that "Doc" and Sedgwick were using fists on Boyd, but he did not see any kicks.

To Mr. Neal, witness said that when Sedgwick was put out of the house he was scratched. He was so drunk he fell through the gate.

William Alfred Christensen said that Lindley and Sedgwick grabbed Boyd, but the other man did not do anything. To counsel, he said that he (witness) put Sedgwick out of the house,. but the three of them must have laid hands on him. He could not go to the assistance of Boyd during the struggle, because Tait was standing in front of him.

Evidence for the prosecution was also given by Constable J. L. Adams.

Mr. Neal, outlining the defence, said that after Sedgwick met the other defendants they went back to the house solely for the purpose of seeing that he had fair play. Tait stood at the foot of the stairs, and Lindley covered a doorway to prevent anybody interfering with what they considered was Sedgwick getting .revenge for an injury.

William Tait, giving evidence along these lines, said that Lindley eventually stopped the fight. Witness did not hold Boyd while he was being assaulted.

Lindley also gave evidence that he had not touched Boyd.

Sedgwick was under a prohibition order, said Mr. Neal, but on the night in. question he foolishly had.a drink, because he did not want to appear disgraced in the eyes of the other men. Having started, however, he found that the drink he took was too much for him. He had no doubt, said counsel, that the Pitcairn Islanders had laid hands on Sedgwick.

There was no worth-while case against Tait, said the Magistrate, and the charges against Lindley would also be dismissed.

Sedgwick asked for time to pay the fines, and was allowed until tomorrow morning.