BUSHMAN’S BRUTAL ASSAULT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 221, 4 September 1926, Page 5

BUSHMAN’S BRUTAL ASSAULT

TRIES TO CHOKE OLD MAN Auckland, Sept. 3. A bushman named Walter Robert Manning, aged 43, was charged at the Police Court with assaulting Richard Ravenhill, postmaster at Whangapara, Great Barrier Island, on May 27th., also alternatively with common assault.

Complainant, aged 73. said he was lying reading on his bed in his house at 9 p.m., when the accused walked in, sat on the bed, smoked two cigarettes and without tiny pro/oeution struck him on the eye and tried to choke him with both hands round his throat.

Evidence was given by another resident that he came in and saw accused with his hands on Ravenhhl. Counsel for the accused said that on May 12th. accused sent a money order telegram through Raveaiu.il ordering two bottles of rum from Auckland, and that he asked the complainant about the rum and the postmaster said he had not got it through the ordinary mail. Counsel said the ruin had not been delivered yet. He alleged that Ravenhill said, “We drank it,” also that the accused never had a leg to stand on, as the Kauri Timber Company did not allow liquor in their camp. Accused was a returned soldier, who had suffered from tubercular trouble. Accused denied striking Ravotikill, but admitted pushing him. Mr. Hunt, S.M., said he was quite satisfied Ravenhill had been brutally assaulted. Had it not been for th® fact that the accused had been ill and in hospital, he would have sent him to gaol. Accused was fined £lO, half to go to the complainant, plus £l4 8s witnesses’ expenses, in default two months’ imprisonment.