FIGHTING AND BAD LANGUAGE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2516, 20 December 1927, Page 5

FIGHTING AND BAD LANGUAGE.

ALTERCATION AT KOPAKI. AN ASSAILANT CONVICTED AND FINED. The law of the strong evidently prevails in the back lands of the King Country, and frequently results of tho observance thereof find their way into the Police Court, so that the task of settling the dispute, whatever it may be, devolves on the S.M. after all. In tho Magistrate’s Court to-day, Richard Daly, of Waipa Road, Kopaki, for whom Mr J. D. Vernon appeared, pleaded guilty to charges of fighting in a public place, to wit Pask’s Mill Road, with one William James King, and also that on the 27th November last, he did use indecent language in a public place as ‘ above. The accused consented to be dealt with summarily on the second charge. The informant, William James King, enginedriver, employed at Pask’s mill, Kopaki, in the box said that trouble , between Daly and himself had started -v some eight months ago. He consider- 4 ed that it commenced with a dispute between the two men as to informant’s dog being on tho mill site. Witness i had permission to put the dog on Mr MacDonald’s property near the mill. A complaint went into the office from Daly that he was -to remove the dog]. Witness had shifted the dog.’ “I’M HAVING YUU ON.” \ ■ The occasion of the assault was one - y in which witness was - riding on a • lorry and Daly pulled him off and knocked; him about. Witness said Daly had declared that lie would “finish the matter” later ana witness thought that the defendant would carry out liis threat if lie got an opportunity. Daly said that he would fcdow the whistle-one of mornings at the mill as witness would not be theie to do it. On Sunday, 27tli November, Daly jumped up on a lorry upon which witness was riding and a scuffle took place, being started by Daly. Daly and witness fell off the lorry. His Worship; I suppose the carrier was glad to see the last of both of you (Laughter.) Witness said that the -scuffle continued' on the ground in rough and tumble fashion. Witness had said to Daly: “I don’t want to fight,” but Daly replied: “It’s no use; I am having you 6n, King-i.” NOT SOBER. Daly was' not sober at the time, and punched witness, who did his best to keep him off and had to- punch back. The lorry arrived at witness’s home and witness got off. Daly had come up by this time and attacked witness again. In reply to a question by His Worship', witness stated that when Daly was. sober he did not bother witiiess. Sergeant Fearnley: - You were talking to Daly outside the court a little while ago and he wanted to fight you, didn’t lie? ' Witness: Yes.

Mr Vernon (to Sergeant Fearnley): If you can’t prove your case, Sergeant, don’t ask him questions like that

Sergeant Fearnley : This man lias pleaded guilty. Cross-examined, witness denied that he was fond of fighting—he had one fight at the mill.

Mr Vernon: Who hit you ? Witness: 1 don’t know. I got a tremendous blow on the jaw, but I don’t know who hit me.

Wifiles denied being before the court in Te Whetu and lie had had no fight there.

Mr Vernon: You have nothing to fear against Daly. • Witness: Well, I only Avant him to say that lie won’t interfere Avith me, that’s all. To His Worship : Witness had not had any drink on the occasion'of the scuffle on the 27th November. To Sergeant Fearnley: He did not think he would be a match' for Daly in a fight if they Avere both sober. A DANGEROUS MAN. The police stated that the defendant Daly haci previously been convicted of assault in 1922. Daly Aims quite all right Avhen lie Aims sober, but he Aims a dangerous man when drunk. The police applied for a prohibition order to be taken out against the defendant. Mr Vernon said that the defendant was ivell knoivn about the district and he Aims quite a decent individual except ivhen in liquor, and lie Aims a good Ai’crker. The effect of a prohibition order might act as an irritant to a man of defendant’s temperament. “A WOMAN IN THIS.” His Worship (to defendant) : Will you do your best to leave Kingl alone? Defendant: It’s hard. His Worship : Well ? Defendant (demurring): I will do my best. His Worship: Will you shake hands ivith King? Defendant: No. . His Worship: Why not? Defendant: There is a woman- in this and I don’t want to fetch this in. Sergeant Fearnley (to informant): Do you know anything about that, King? Informant: L do not—he’s got something in his head. His Worship: Daly has a previous conviction and if lie gives any further trouble ho ivill ha-ve to be punished. He will get gaol. Sergeant Fearnley: If he gives any more trouble he ivill be brought in under a iimrrant. L’l'e done e\ rerything L can for him and have tried to reason ivith him. On the first charge the defendant urns convicted and fined £2 with costs £1 15s, and cn the second charge ho Aims convicted and fined £3 and costs. Defendant agreed to have a prohibitum order taken out against him, and undertook to do his best to refrain from interfering ivith the informant. His Worship issued a warning to the defendant and advised both men to avoid trouble or clashing ivith each other. “If Daly clashes he knows what to expect,” concluded His Worship.