AFFRAY ON RACECOURSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9577, 31 July 1923, Page 3

AFFRAY ON RACECOURSE.

DISPUTE OVER. “TOTE” TICKET. A quarrel over a tctalisator ticket at the Poverty Bay Trotting Club’s meeting on July 27 load to the appearance of .lolin Marchbank in the Magistratc’.T Court yesterday before Mr. E. C. Lower. S.M.. leharged with assault. Senr.-Sergt. Fitzpatrick said that a dispute had .arisen between the accused and a Air. Smith regarding the ownership of a totali.sntor ticket. Sometime after, accused met Smith on the lawn opposite the grandstand, and there struck him several blows, <.ne pertly stunning him and the second, felling him to the ground, with blood pouring from his face. The accused then mingled with the crowd, but was apprehended by Constable Thompson. The accused, in pleading guilty to the charge of assault, said that he had had a share in the totalu-nto; ticket, but Smith bad refused to pay over. He was a married man with a family. The Senr.-Sergt. said that accused had had. drink, but was quite capable of looking after himself. His Worship said that it was an extraordinary tiring for a man to have done. His usual practice, he said, in eases of unprovoked assault, was to sentence to a tenn of imprisonment without the option, but.'as the accused was a married man. and it was the first time that lie had been before the court, he would make on exception in this case. Accused would be convicted and fined .£lO, in default throe months’ imprisonment. One month was allowed in which to pay.