MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE AT A DANCE

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 20, 21 February 1940, Page 5

MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE AT A DANCE

INCIDENT AT CLARK’S BEACH * YOUNG MAN WOUNDED GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM CHARGE BUTCHER TO STAND TRIAL Sequel to an argument concerning politics and religion that took place at a dance hall at Clark's Beach, Waiau Pa, at midnight on Saturday, January 27, was the discovery that a young man had sustained an injury to his neck, and, the day at ter, the arrest of a butcher, Matthew Alexander Doyle, aged 20. Doyle appeared in the Auckland Police Court on Monday before Mr Orr Walker, S.M., charged- that on January 27, at Clark’s Beach, with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Patrick John Boland, he did wound Boland, and he was committed for trial.

Deled ive-Sergeanl McHugh prosecuted. and Mr F. McCarthy appeared for accused. Dr. 11. Stewart Douglas, of Pukekohe, said Bolancl was canned into his surgery at 2 a.m. on January 28 suffering from an incised wound on his neck extending from two inches below the left ear right round the throat, across the Adam’s apple to an inch and a half past- the middle line. The wound‘was gaping and spurting blood. Boland's condition at the time was critical. He was losing much blood. The wound must have been close to the jugular vein. After witness, assisted by his nurse, stopped the flow mf blood, he sent Boland lo Ihe Auckland llospilal by ambulance. Fight Outside Hall With his neck swathed in bandages, Patrick John Boland gave his evidence. A farm labourer, of Karaka, Boland, who, said he was 2.">. added Dial he arrived a I the dance hall ahoul !) p.in. and had two glasses of beer. About 10 p.m. he saw accused, who appeared to he quite sober. At midnight, when the dance was finished and I lie hand played "God Save the King.” a handround supper was served. One of the hoys was then having an argument with Doyle. Witness heard Doyle say that the British were “worse Ilian Hiller because we allowed them fo use the whip on Ihe blacks in Africa.” “We went outside the hall, where the argument was continued. All the men were angry with the accused. Accused went away, but when he returned he and I started an argument on religion. Accused said that religion was nothing lo him. He said he had been a Catholic, hut now he was nothing. I said to him. ‘Well, that's another thing I don’t like you for.’ “Accused said he was a Communist. After that 1 asked him if lie meant what he said inside 11 1 e hall and lie said ’Maybe I did.’ J I lien hit him on the side of Ihe face with my list. Accused then came into Lhe tight. We were in the semi-darkness. As Ihe accused came hack at me he hit me once and I hit him a few times. The fight only continued for two minutes when a girl came and look accused and put him in a motor car. As l was taking off my coat J put my hand up to my lliroat and saw it was covered with blood. 1 went lo the others to gel assistance. Boland said lie did not see Doyle with anything in his hands. No other person was near enough to cause the injury. Boland said also that lie was in hospital unlii February 8 and while there he was given a blood transfusion. Two other men who were al I lie dance also gave evidence. “I Saw Stars”

No Intention of Killing i had in my hand struck him in. ti e neck. 1 had no intention at all of killing Ihe man. “My temper was up al Ihe lime, and j jusi wanted to get my own hack on I lie man who had struck me. The man si ruck me several limes after this. One of my males I lien came along and put me in Prince’s car. I was thrown into I lie car and landed on the floor. !. cannot. recollect what I did with ihe knife, hut I later found that it was in my trousers pocket and properly closed. The pockcl knife that l now hand Lo 11,( police is the one. When I got mto the car l noticed that there was a lot of blood on my shirt, coat and trousers. My nose was bleeding slightly, and most of Ihe blood would oe from my nose. Bottle Through Window “Wlkui I got into the car. Prince got i>! and drove off. Just as *ve were driving away an empty beer bottle was I brown through the rear window of Prmce’s car. We then drove away I Papakura. The incident would never have happened hut for the fact Hint, l had taken liquor and that ihe miier man had just assaulted me. When we got to Papakura I intended lo go to the Papakura police and make a frank confession of what happened. Prince telephoned the Papakura poibe si a I ion. and we waited for them to .Tine along to us at. a tearoom, but the police did not come along.” This concluded the hearing. Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved ins defence, and was committed io ihe Supreme Court for trial. Accused was allowed hail in a surely of £2OO.

Detective-Sergeant .). Trelhewey said lie interviewed accused on January 28 at his home. lie added Unit, after being warned, accused made a statement in which he said he was a butcher employed at the Westfield Freezing Works and lived al Halsey Hoad, Manurewa. On Ihe night of January 27 lie went to Clarke’s Beach in a molor car driven by Rat Prince. There was another car and a number of other persons in the parly. He had with him in the car three large bottles of beer and a bottle of wine. He had no liquor on the way to the dance, which he and the others attended. However, lie had a few drinks at the dance hall, but lie could not say how many.

“After the dance was over I called out, ‘lleil Hitler!’” continued accused in his statement. “Some men were standing in the hall, and they called roe over to them. I went over, and some of them told me that I shouldn t. have veiled out like that. I said I was sorry 1 had done it. Then Hungs quietened down. 1 then stood talking in the hall during supper. Some of us in the hall then had a rather heated discussion regarding politics, including Communism and Nazi-ism. We all went outside with the intention of going home. A further argument took place, and one of the men struck me on the left eye. I saw stars. I could then see I was in a ‘hot, spot,’ and that the crowd were against, me. In the heat of the moment I drew my porkcl knife from my left trousers pocket, opened the large blade and rushed at the man who had struck me. It was fairly dark, and I could just see the outline of the man. We both rushed at each other, and the open knife that