“PIN PRICKING.',

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1925, Page 8

“PIN PRICKING.',

xIIE REWANUI ASSAULT. DEFENDANT ACTED UNDTR EXTREME PROVOCATION. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., Joseph Devine appeared on remand on the charge of assaulting his son-ia-biw, Robcr McTaggart, at Bewapui on July 29th last. The offence was that he struck McTaggart on tho back of the head with an iron bar. McTaggart appeared in Court with a bandage around his head, and in answer to a' question by Senior-Ser-geant McCarthy, stated that he was well enough for the case to go on. Defendant, for whom Mr W, J, Joyce appeared, pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy stated that, in view of the nature of Dr Roy's evidence he would ask that the charge be reduced to one of common assault. Counsel for defendant stated that McTaggart had for some time indulged In pin-pricking tactics against hie father-in-law, and had called him a lot of abusive names. (Here Counsel repeated some of the names McTaggart was alleged to have used to defend ant). Both defendant and MeTaggtyf were members of a co-operative mining gang at Dunollie, and it seemed that strenuous efforts were being made to rid the gang of his client. The day prior to the assault defendant interviewed Constable Houston at Dunollie and was advised to see a solicitor Defendant had made a clean breast of the affair io Senior Sergeant McCarthy. On one occasion, counsel continued, McTaggart. held up his hands and kept on saying “My Father, forgive me for being a drunkard.” Defendant did not deny that he used the bar. but he used no force, just touching McTaggart on the back of tho head. He had no knowledge of assault! Taggart. If the bar had been ; used with any force “there would have been no McTaggart here to tell the tale.” Counsel asked his Worship to take these facts of the ease into consideration. The police,- and residents of Runanga would admit that defendant was a respectable old man. The fact of his being plagued day by day and week by week caused him to commit the act. Counsel contended there’would be some difficulty in his client -carrying on with the co-operative party, ns his position had become almost unbearable. If necessary counsel "would bring witnesses to prove the- respect i.i which his client was held, and the pin-pricks that had been resorted to to get him cut of the eo-operntive party. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy said he was not in a position to state what the nature of the pin-pricks were. There wns no question that there had been ill-feeling between the two men for some time. On the night in question McTaggart was outside his hut breaking up carbide and defendant was (■•hanging his clothes inside tho hut. For some unaccountable reason defendant got up. wont outside the hut and picked up the iron bar. Tho next thing that happened was that McTaggnrt was lying on the floor and defendant was standing alongside of him. It would have been a serious thing if defendant had used any force with the weapon, and it was lucky for both parties that no force was used. Tho weapon wns "Jibs in weight, and was most deadly even in the hands of a frail old man like defendant.

in answer to his Worship, AleTaggart stated that he “had never said anytlii.ig harder tc :im than he said to me.” His Worship: You must remember that you are a much younger man than your father-in-law. Replying to a question by the Magistrate as to the character of defendant, Senior-Sergeant Mc-Carthv said he bore an excellent character. The affair was simply a matter of impulse. Air Meldrum: A man who bears such, a record as defendant is not likely to commit such an act unless he was under extreme provocation I think AU Taggart was very much to blame in provoking his xathe.r-in-law. Defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within sis months, if called upon. Costs, amounting to £3 ss-wore ••.entered.against defendant.