ASSAULT BY SYRIAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 25, 29 December 1925, Page 6

ASSAULT BY SYRIAN.

MAN STRUCK WITH STICK.

ACCUSED FINED £2

Described as a hawker and labourer of no fixed address, Gabriel Sasien, alias Asalt, a Syrian, .57 years of age, appeared before Messrs M. A. Eliott and A. Hannay, J.P’s., at the Police Court this morning on a charge that, on December 28, at Palmerston North, he did assault John Murphy by striking him in the face with a stick. - Speaking in broken English, accused admitted the offence, but denied that he had done it on purpose. It had been an accident; a mistake. Murphy had wanted money and had interfered with him.

Senior-Sergeant O’Grady stated that Murphy had been in accused’s company in Main street and had asked 1.i... for money. Sasien, becoming annoyed, had struck his companion with a stick ho carried, inflicting an injury that necessitated medical attention.

In evidence, Murphy said that ho did not remember the incident owing to his then being under the influence of liquor, but ho did not think that ho had asked for money. Accused hereupon interposed that Murphy had had 3d and had asked him for 9d to make it up to Is. Continuing, witness said that, if the blow had been higher, he would havo lost the sight of his only eyo. The blood from the wound had ruined a new tie, a shirt and a handkerchief. An hotel employee , gavo evidence that he had witnessed tho two having an argument, in tho street and had told them to bo quiet. He had not seen anything to justify Murphy being struck with the stick.

Constable Ebbett deposed that, in consequence of what Murphy had told him when he had been arrested for drunkenness, ho had interviewed Sasien, who had stated that Murphy had been annoying him.-* In reply to tho Bench, SeniorSergeant O’Grady said that accused had previously been convicted for assault. A fine of 40s, in default 14 days’ imprisonment, was imposed. Accused said that he could not pay inside a fortnight. “CHASED AROUND THE COUNTRY.” “This man can never pay anything,” said tho Senior-Sergeant. “We are continually chasing him around tho country with maintenance orders.” Accused was ordered to pay 10s witness’s and 15s medical expenses.