AUCKLAND AFFRAY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1935, Page 5

AUCKLAND AFFRAY

ASSAULT AND BLACKMAIL

(Per Press Association, Copyright)

AUCKLAND, June 6

As a sequel to an affray in a city office on May IT, John Leslie Spicer, 26, was charged to-day wth assaulting two men and demanding money with menaces,.

Evidence was given by Alfred Richard Buchanan that Spicer, whom he had discharged from his employthreatened to go to the police and tell them that Buchanan had received part of the money stolen by a. bankclerk who' is now in gaol. He (Buchanan) replied by inviting Spicer to go to the police. Witness explained that he had wen £1(10 from the bank clerk when gambling with ihim. When he learned, that the clerk had oeen stealing from the bank he (Buchanan) went to the hank and offered to pay them the £lO3. Witness said that when he invited Spicer to go to the police, lie became very enraged and assaulted him. The disorder in which he found the office, was described by a member of the honorary ... staff of the St. John Ambulance.

“I saw Buchanan lying in the corner of the room with the telephone around his neck,” he said. Ho appeared to he in a semi-conscious condition, and he was bleeding profusely from a wound over his eye. Buchanan was asked what had been going on, and he pointed to the accused and said: “Get him arrested ” There wan blood over the telephone and the desk and floor and part of the wall. Two chairs were overturned, and one was broken.”

Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that when questioned, the accused said: “My name is Jack Spicer. I cleaned them both up. and 1 made a proper job of him,” pointing to Buchanan. Spicer denied having used anything more than his fists however. The accused pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, and he was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £3OO.