CHARGE OF ASSAULT

Evening Star, Issue 19387, 22 October 1926, Page 4

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

AH AUCKLAND INCIDENT ....[Per United Press- Association.! AUCKLAND, October 21. •.A plea of not gut fey was entered by Erie Taylor (twenty-three), who was charged at the Police Court to-day that, on October 8, ho did assault William George Ferguson and attempt to rob him of a gold watch and chain and' a metal watch, valued at £2(5, . Complainant Said that on October 9 he was at his home, 68 Mount Eden road, when a knock came at the door. On going outside he saw two men. One of the men said: “How are you doing, old chap?” and witness replied “All right, Digger.” They asked him to go for a taxi drive, but he declined. Each of the men had a bottle Of beer. After some talk witness went to get an opener, but when he .turned round he was knocked down and struck with something which he believed to bo a bottle. When witness was on the ground one of the men said: “Tf you don’t keep quiet we will throttle the. life out of you.” Witness felt the men going through his pockets. The men ran away. •

Herbert Ferguson, son of the complainant, said that just as he reached 1:ho gate of his fathers homo two men rushed past. Ho saw his father covered with blood and staggering on his feet. Seeing that something was wrong, he chased the two men, who were running down -the Blount Eden mad, overtaking them 200 yards down the road. Each had a bottle of beer in his hand. Witness never hesitated, but struck the accused Taylor, who went down on his back. -Ho then struck the other man, who hit witness with the beer bottle. The second man and witness both went down together. The other man ran away, but the accused was still lying on the ground. Mr Hammond: Was he unconscious? ; Witness.: ...My. oath, he was. I saw to that." Had I known ho w'oilld have been unconscious for so long I would have.,left..him .andchased.,.the .etitet, man. ’ Constable MacLennan said that when accused was arrested later he said: “My cobber assaulted him, but I won’t tell you his namo, ; and I will take the blame 'myself.” Detective Lambert said that when be interviewed the acused the latter said ho went to the house on the invitation of a man whom he did not know. The accused said that ho thought they were going to a party. Accused pleaded not guilty., and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.