A KOKIRI CASE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1910, Page 1

A KOKIRI CASE

TWO NEIGHBOURS DISAGREE. A private information was heard at the Magistrate's Court vebterday lefore Mr. A. Crooke. S.M., when Herbert Arthur Wilson (Mr. Jovce) charged Talbot Brooks (Mr. J. W. Hannan) with assaulting him on Siindav. February 27th. The evidence of the complainant was thai ..n the evening of February 27th he was sitting down in front o'f Mr. Gallop's place when defendant cam. ■•ihmg and stripped off his coat and came up to witness railing him some obscene names and struck him three or four times on the head and neck. A struggle followed in which Brooks got either a blow or a scratch which bled. Edward Gallop, residing at Baxter's Siding, stud he worked for Mr. Halm. Hi was sitting just outside his house' with Mr. Wilson. Brooks and his wife came along and he took off his coat and struck Wi!s,,ti several blows before Wilson took his own part. Wilson gave tin provocation whatever. Brooks's wife walked 011 while the snuggle went on.

To Mr ilannau.- Witness was standing u|> anij Wilson was sitting down. Witness was on tlic public road, lie and Wilson were talking about cricket When the struggle took place he did not interfere. Witness took bis children in the bouse and then went, out again. To Mr. Joyce.—Some women subsequently came along and one of them stopped tbe row. She told Brooks it was a woman's row. Mr. Joyce called .John Wilson, a brother of the informant, who said he remembered I'Vbruarj 27th when Brooks assaulted Wilson and forced the latter on the ground on some rushes. Brooks died to get him up on bis legs and then used some indecent language. lie then wanted lo get at witness. Witness's brother got up immediately after Brooks left. A man named Gibbs came up. Several women wt.ie about including witness' wife who called him to conn en. To Mi Haunan. —\\ itnosn saw Brtn.lv> striking at bis broUier but he did not actually see him strike his brother, lie only came on the scene after tbe struggle bad began. lie had no idea what the row was all about. Did not know of any trouble about Brooks leaving Mr. llabn's house. Mr. Halm was witness's father-in-law. There was-an ill-feeling between some of the women of the two families but not between the men. To Mr. Joyce.—Brooks and lie bad always been good friends till a couple of days before this affair look place. Mr. Ilannati said he bad the defendant and another witness to put in the box. It was a family affair that should never have been brought into Court at all.

Defendant, Talbot Brooks, said that bis wife and Mrs. Wilson had had a dispute and be and his wife had determined to leave the house in consequence. On the Sunday in question defendant was crossing down the road and stopped to speak to Gallop. He told his wife to walk on and he would speak to Wilson. Gallop went inside his house when he came up to them. He asked Wilson what these rows \vcro about. While he was saying so Wilson rolled up his sleeves and struck witness first. Witnes then look iff his coat and the light began. When his brother came he got up and had another go. Witness did not make any mark on Wilson but Wilson cut witness on the nose.

Tii Mr. Joyce.—They were meeting each oilier wlion he and his wife were going for a walk. They went about 200 yards when they turned and saw Wilson speaking to Gallop. Wilson was sitting down when witness was a yard off. He did not call him any indecent names. Wilson would not get up after the fight so witness went away and left him. Wilson would not gel up after beinj* on the ground. He could not say whether he knocked Wilson down or whether they did not both fall together. Charles Gibbs said he saw plaintiff and defendant on the road and there were also two ladies close by. Witness saw Brooks take his coat off. Wilson then hit Brooks and the latter jumped back. Both women were close to the fight. Wilson struck Brooks first. To Mr. Joyce.—Witness was walking •from Stillwater to Kokiri. There were no men but Brooks and Wilson present. Gallop was not there. Ho was inside his house. He was not on the road. Wilson was standing up when Brooks came along. Heard no bad language used. Wilson lay down and Brooks told him to get tip. There was an argument but no bad language used. Wilson, his brother John and Brooks were standing up when Wilson struck Brooks. John Wilson did not say anything to Brooks. To Mr. Hannaia —Both women were on the ir6a3 whah he cartie tip. The Magistrate accepted me, evidence of Gallop as reliable and that showed that defendant was the aggressor. Thore was not much of tin assault and defendant Would be fined £1 and costs of witnesses 27s and solicitors fee 21s.

Mr. Joyce withdrew a charge of indecent language against defendant, no costs being charged.