TROUBLE IN KITCHEN
INDIAN STRIKES CIRL.
AUCKLAND, June -16. For assaulting a' Maori girl, an Indian named Bhana Soma - was sent to gaol by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court to-day. Soma was charged with' assaulting [Nathan Govincl Patel,-'an Indian 'fruit- _ erer, and also with assaulting Mary Grattam. Represented by Mr McLiver, he pleaded not guilty. : Another Maori girl, - employed by Patel as an assistant in. his -fruit shop in Karangahape Road, said Soma started to peel potatoes on the cupboard in the kitchen. Mary Graham objected, and told him to do the potatoes in the scullery. He replied by striking her twice on the chest. Witness later saw; accused catch hold of Patel bv the throat and strike him on the eye with hi 9 fist. Mary Graham said that when Soma--1 struck her she said to : hiiu: “Do you .want me to tell ihe bhss|;or go for the police?*’ ;He then -waved a knife in front of her face and said.: “Boss or police, I kill-anybody,” . - • • - • Patel told the Court [ that he first met SomaVabbut. a week ago, accused stating that.' he had - oome from Palmerston North and had job. Witness gave hini work in hisshop. When. '■ 'he returned from the markets on t’riday he : read a note , (from 3Jary Graham, who handed in her week's notice because she had been wifiaultfd by gotna. fra ter,' •hf toi'4-." leave his premises. -•••fTHiere was [time trouble and a epnktable who was called, advising Soma to leave 1 quietly. After the policeman had left,-.said Petal, Soma followed him' upstairs when' he went to - get aeousea’s belongings. Stating that he would “finish-him off now.” Somai caught hold of him. Both fell down the stairs. • . Soma’s story was that .be returned to get his belongings,, which Patel would' not give him. He denied assaulting the girl. ", ~' f
v “I am not going to have men assaulting girls : like . this, ’■'■ said" ’the istrate, ip , sending accused to prison, for 14 days. On tjie other, charge of assault,‘ Soma' was d6hvicted : discharged. ” .1. - '
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Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1931, Page 5
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342TROUBLE IN KITCHEN Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1931, Page 5
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