FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 72, 24 February 1932, Page 8

FEILDING

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Arising out of an incident which occurred at an hotel in Feilding on the night of February 6-, Ernest Anderson was charged at tKe Magistrate s Court at Feilding yesterday before Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., with allegedly assaulting David P.' Barrett and with being on licensed premises after hours. A charge of being on licensed premises was also preferred against Leonard Avery. Sergeant Cahill conducted the prosecution while Mr Mason entered a plea of not guilty m behalf of both accused. Evidence was given by Miss Bayrett that she was in the bar on the evening in question when she heard a knock on the slide. She looked out and saw Anderson and Avery on the premises. Anderson asked for a drink, but witness refused to serve it. Witness next heard a row in the passage and bad language used, but she could not say to whom the language was directed or by whom it was said. • - , .1* David Barrett said that he saw both accused in the hotel on the night ot February 6. Anderson seemed to have had some drink and witness advised Avery to take him away. Averv did not ask for a drink —he was looking after Anderson. Anderson said he was looking for a friend and pushed-wit-ness aside and said he was gore? j nto the bar. Witness remonstrated witn Anderson and told him that if he d.d not go away he would ring for the police. Anderson then used oad . language and as he would not go away witness had the police rung for. Before the police arrived Anderson came toward witness- with his arms swinging wildly , and as witness stepped on one side to avoid being.hit his wife stepped in between witness and Anderson and received a light blow, but ythere was no force behind it. The blow was not intended for witness’s wife, but apparently for witness. Examined by Mr Mason, witness said Anderson had asked for a certain person and on being told he was not there started to “jump all round the passage.” ~ In evidence Anderson stated that he had been to Palmerston North that day and had some liquor. When he went to the hotel on his. return to Feilding he did not Ree Miss Barrett, and he did not ask for a drink. He denied that he had used bad language or that he had assaulted anyone. He had gone there to arrange with a friend about going to the beach the following day. » ' Leonard Avery said he had been with Anderson in Palmerston North and accompanied him to the hotel when they returned to. Feilding. Witness heard an argument in the hotel and heard Anderson talking loudly to Barrett. Witness did not see either > Mrs Barrett' or Miss Barrett there at the time. Witness took Anderson out of the hotel which witness was not in for more than half, a minute. Anderson had a bad cold and was sick but was not drunk. Anderson should have been able to remember everything that took plaoe at the hotel as he appeared alright when witness took him away. In giving his judgment, the. Magistrate said he was prepared to accept the explanation that Anderson had gone to the hotel to see liis friend and tiie charge of being on licensed premises would be dismissed. On tne charge of assault the Magistrate was satisfied that Anderson had tried to hit Barrett and a fine of £2 in default of 14 days’ imprisonment would be imposed. The charge against Avery was dismissed.