ASSAULT ON BAILIFF

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1940, Page 5

ASSAULT ON BAILIFF

TWO YOUTHS CONVICTED. [per press association.] • HAMILTON, September ,19. A sequel to the serving of a summons on a Te Rapa resident; when the bailiff was violently attacked by the resident’s sons, was heard in the Magistrate’s Court when charges of assault were preferred . against Leonard Vincent' Windsor Brown, aged 19, and Robert Alexander Wilson Brown, aged 18. The bailiff, Michael McCormack, said that when lie. called to serve the summons Leonard Brown ordered him off the property, and then he was knocked down and attacked by the two accused and their elder brother. After a scuffle he freed hipiself and summoned the police; but he received injuries which necessitated his admission to hospital for nearly fiv_e weeks. x / z Leonard Brown admitted the offence, but the younger brother denied having taken any part in the Scuffle, a statement which was supported in evidence by the third brother. The Magistrate, Mr Paterson, declined to accept this version, saying that he considered the evidence blatant perjury. In fact, the third brother was fortunate that he was not charged with assault. He viewed the case very seriously, and because of that, and also to impose a deterrent penalty on Leonard Brown, it would have to be a severe sentence. Borstal detention not exceeding a year was imposed on Leonard Brown. Robert Brown was ordered to come up for sentence withing 12 months if called on, with a provision that he would not be required to appear if he reported to the police weekly.