"LIKE A PAIR OF LOUTS"

Evening Star, Issue 25471, 30 April 1945, Page 6

"LIKE A PAIR OF LOUTS"

YOUNG MEN IN COURT ASSAULTS AT HOTEL DOORWAY "These two-young men are thoroughly ashamed of themselves and realise that they behaved like a pair of louts," said Mr A. J. 11. Jeavons in the Police Court this morning, when pleading for Leonard Albert Lowe, aged 21, and Ronald Potiki Lowe, aged 20, two brothers, described as labourers, who each admitted charges of assaulting George Alfred Dandy and Alfred Charles Henry Wilkinson. A charge against Ronald Lowe of stealing a pair of spectacles belonging to Dandy was denied, and later withdrawn.

Senior-sergeant A. Johnston said that at ".:!() p.m. last Friday the two accused approached Dandy, who Was standing outside the Criterion Hotel, and asked if they could obtain liquor. Dandy said they could not be supplied, whereupon the Lowe brothers attacked him and dealt him half a dozen very severe blows. In the scuffle Dandy was knocked down, and his spectacles fell off. Ronald Lowe was seen to pick them up and put them in his pocket. An hour later the two accused returned to the hotel. The door was answered by Wilkinson, an elderly barman-porter, who told them they could not obtain ' liquor. They then savagely, attacked Wilkinson, and knocked him down. A taxi driver came to Wilkinson's assistance, and dragged the two men off, after which they went away in the taxi. At 9.30 p.m. the two accused were arrested at their home, and Ronald Lowe had the spectacles in his possession. Dandy suffered superficial injuries on the face and forehead. Wilkinson had been confined to his bed after the assault. Mr Jeavons said the two accused had consumed liquor before 6 p.m. They went to Moray Place for a taxi, and while waiting they conceived the idea of buying liquor to take home. Their version was that a wordy argument developed, and led to blows. A search was made for the spectacles, which were not found until Dandy had gone inside. Rouald Lowe put them in, his pocket with a view to returning them later. went away for a meal, and came back again for a taxi, and gained the impression that a man at the door of the hotel abused thein, and that led to another scufHe. The two accused were admitted to probation for one year, the Magistrate ordering that they be prohibited from taking liquor and that each pay £1 to Dandy and Wilkinson.