FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 286, 31 October 1933, Page 4

FEILDING

MAGISTRATE’S COURT. ALLEGED FIGHTING IN PUBLIC PLACE. Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., was on the Bench at to-day’s sitting of the Feilding Magistrate’s Court. Arising out of a fight between relief workers on Saturday, October 14, William Barr McNab, John .Hector Evans, Charles Chisholm •l'orbes. senr., and Charles Chisholm I'orbos, junr.’ were charged with fighting in a public place. Sergeant Angland conducted the prosecution. Mr D. C. Cullinane appeared for For lies senr. and junr., and. IMr McLoavcy foi Evans and McNab. Outlining the case, Sergeant Angland said that on October 14 all the accused were in Stafford Street outside the Borough Council office. Forbes junr. had occasion to speak to McNab, complaining that McNab had nearly driven over him with a horse and cart. This led to further words and a tussle. Evans at this | stage came along. and it was alleged that he struck Forbes junr., the blow leading to a fight. At the same time, Forbes senr. and McNab exchanged blows. The fight between Forbes junr. and Evans was a more serious affair than the other one. With, the arrival of the police the four principals were interviewed and names In evidence, Sergeant Angland stated that about 11.15 a.m. on October 14 he went to the Borough Council Chambers in Stafford Street and found that four men had been fighting on a small green just off the road. The green was fully in the public sight. Witness saw Forbes junr. with blood on his face and he stated that he would come to the police station and give Iris explanation. Forbes senr. gave a similar answer and both carried out their promise. Evans was also seen by witness and the condition of his face showed that he had been engaged in a severe bout of fisticuffs. Evans told witness that he had seen a young man tussling with McNab and he, Evans, had gone to McNab’s assistance. The young man had then started to fight him. Evans had stated he did not know the young man he was fighting with. McNab was also interviewed and stated that a young man named Forbes had accused McNab of nearly running over him. McNab had replied that he. did not know him. Forbes junr. had then hit him, the words leading also to blows between Forbes senr and McNab, but they were separated. In an interview with Forbes, junr., witness added, Forbes told the police that on a previous occasion McNab i had nearly run him down. Forbes had ; called out to McNab to be careful of { where he was going, but McNab had t merely waved his whip, called .out ' "scab” and drove on. At the Borough Council chambers Forbes, junr., bad spoken to McNab about the affair, and while he was talking to him he was hit bv Evans. The blow lead to a fight, Forbes, junr., having told bis father to watch McNab while he engaged Evans. Evans, senr., had given a corroborative statement to witness. To Mr Cullina.ne, witness said the Forbes had not been before the Court before. He had not heard anything since that would cause him to doubt their explanations. Answering Mr McLeavey, witness said he had no special reasons to doubt

the explanations of Evans and McNab. Have you any general reasons? —No, they did not make a very long statement, but they answered all the questions 1 asked. Had you heard any. complaints prior to' the fight about this running down in Denbigh Square?—No, I had not boon told about that. Constable Pike detailed the inquiries lie had made on being called to the scone of the fight. Evans bad told him that Forbes, junr., had been fighting • with McNab and lie, Evans, had tried | to pull him off. Forbes, junr., bad then fought him. McNab had also alleged j that be was not responsible for his part in the affair. To Mr Cullinane witness said that neither of the Forbeses were present when be bad spoken to Evans and McNab. This concluded the case for the prosecution. Charles Forbes, labourer, of Feilding, said that while working with liis son in Denbigh Square, trimming the edge .of the green, a horse and gig bad nearly run over them. Witness bad called out to the driver to be careful where he was going and the driver, who was McNab, bad called out "scab” and waved his whip. This would be in regard to the strike at the freezing works last year, when Forbes and his son were free labourers at the works. On the Saturday morning at the Borough Council chambers Forbes, junr., had spoken to McNab about the affair, and asked him to be more careful of where he was driving. McNab replied “I’ve never seen you before; anyhow you are onlv a ‘scab’.” With that McNab drew back his fist to apparently strike the hoy, but Forbes, junr., said: "I don’t want to fight von; you are too old.” Just then Evans came from behind and hit Forbes, junr., a.t the back of the ear, felling him. Evans struck Foi'bes, junr., again as lie rose. Witness then went to the assistance of bis son to keep McNab off. This had led to blows between them, witness finally keeping McNab away while Evans and Forbes, junr., fought, Evans getting a thrashing. • . To Mr McLeavey, witness denied that liis son “fancied himself with his fits.” They had not invited all comers to a fight after Evans had been beaten. Witness was satisfied that McNab had I tried to run him and his son down. Witness denied that his son had struck the first blow or started the fight. Charles Forbes, junr., son of the former witness, corroborated the evidence of his father in regard to the alleged attempted running down of both of them by McNab, and the subsequent events leading up to the fight. Witness liad not known Evans before the fight, not even liis name. Witness had been struck from behind, the blow nearly knocking him out. The fight was over before the police arrived and witness and his father made a voluntary statement to the police. To Mr McLeavey, witness denied that Evans only came into the fight after he (witness) had knocked McNab down. Witness had merely wished to tell McNab to be more careful where he was driving in future. He had not had any grudge against McNab for what he had said and done. Vivian Sidney Fisher said he was present at the Borough Council chambers on the morning in question and had heard Forbes, junr., tell McNab to be more careful where he u T as driving. Words had been exchanged and these had led to the fight. McNab had been the aggressor and it had been

while he was edging up for a fight with Forbes, junr., tliat Evans had hit him. To Mr McLeavey, witness said that McNab hit Forbes, junr., 'who told him to go away. McNab kept coming in and it ivas then' that Evans hit Forbes, junr. Jn evidence, William Barr McNab denied that he had tried to run the two Forbeses down. He had never seen the younger Forbes before, and did not know either of them. At the Borough Council Chambers Forbes junr. had accosted witness about nearly running him and his father down. Witness had said he did not know Forbes, hut Forbes had kept swinging liis fists about and was evidently looking for a fight. Evans had come to the assistance of witness to help him against a younger man. There would have been no trouble if Forbes junr. had not come at witness about nearly running them down. To Segeant Angland: Witness would say that Forbes junr, struck the first blow' in the fight between him and Evans. In reply to Mr Cullinane witness denied that he' had called the Forbeses “scabs.” He admitted driving near tlie elder Forbes, but this had been because the mare he was driving shied. John Hector Evans said he saw young Forbes hit McNab in the face, McNab falling over. Witness then went and pulled Forbes junr. away from McNab. Witness denied that he hit Forbes from behind. Ho gave him a good pull and Forbes fell over. Witness did not strike him until he was on his feet. Witness had only gone into the fight to help McNab. He had never seen the Forbeses before and did not know they had been at the freezing works. To Mr Cullinane, witness said he had been a union labourer at the freezing works. He denied that lie knew the Forbeses were free labourers. He did not hit Forbes junr. from behind. His version of the affair was the truth. Frank McDonald, relief worker, of Feilding, related an argument he had heard between Forbes junr. and McNab. He liad not seen any blows struck, but had seen McNab walking away with Forbes junr. following him. To Sergeant Angland, witness said he had seen Forbes pushing McNab away in the early part of the argument. It would appear as if McNab had been edging up to Forbes. This concluded the evidence. The offence with which the four defendants were respectively charged, said the Magistrate in giving judgment, was of fighting in a public place. It was not within the province of the Court, as the Magistrate saw it, to decide between the merits of the case of the respective parties in regard to the offence of fighting publicly. The Magistrate went on to review the evidence of the independent witnesses, Fisher and McDonald, and in regard to the latter’s story found it did not support either McNab’s or Evans’s view of the case. Fisher’s evidence had been very full and his story was in no way shaken in cross-examina-tion, and the Magistrate thought that lie was hound to rely on that evidence. It would seem that young Forbes was disinclined to fight with McNab and that there would not have been any serious trouble had not Evans interfered. The whole question in regard to the two Forbeses was whether they fought voluntarily or whether in self-defence. The Magistrate was inclined to the latter view on the strength of the evidence of the independent witness. McNab would be

convicted and fined £1 10s, with 10s costs, and Evans convicted and fined £l, with 10s costs. The charges against the two Forbeses would be dismissed. Time was allowed in which to pay the fines. For failing to clear his property of gorse aj required of him under the Noxious Weeds Act, H. N. Wilson was fined 10s, with 12s costs. BUII DING SOCIETY. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Feilding Permanent Building and Investment Society, yesterday, the chairman, Mr W. E. Cartliew, stated that since its inception the society had advanced nearly £250,000 to borrowers. The larger part of this sum liad been utilised in home building, and there was no doubt that the society was fulfilling an important role in providing people with their own homes. At the present time there were 120 borrowers on the society’s hooks, and practically all liad to do with the building of houses. Referring to the balance-sheet, the chairman said that reduced business had been recorded as the result of prevailing conditions, but at the present time the improved outlook had brought about a renewed inquiry for assistance for the building of new houses. The report and balance-sheet was adopted, and the retiring directors, Messrs R. Bailey and W. E. Cartliew, re-elected unopposed. Mr A. H. Maguire was re-elected auditor and the formal resolutions, crediting capital “C” shares and investment shares with interest, wore carried. Members referred to the work of the acting-manager, Mr Guy Goodhehere, stating; that he had carried out his duties over a very difficult period, in a most capable and efficient manner. YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUB. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The committee of the Feilding Young Famers’ Club met at the Feilding High School last night, Mr J. M. Campbell, the president, being in the chair. Also present were Misses G., BeaJing, G. Humphreys, M. Fitzpatrick, Messrs G. Mitchell, D. Hart, Jas. Knight, C. Swift, E. H. Lange, H. E. Thurston, AV. C. AViison, D. C. Pryor, G. J. Fitzpatrick, K. Whisker, P. G. Stevens, N. Malcolm and boys of the High School. Mr G. Mitchell was re-elected secretary and Mr Hart assistant-secre-tary. The following district members were added to the committee: —Messrs P. G. Thevenard (Kimbolton), AV. Henson (Sanson), L. Fnulding (Halcombe), Thomasson (Rewa). J. Shortall (Colyton), G. Brown (Taihape), Red (Ashhurst), Christopher (Marton), K. Guthrie (Ruahine), R. Brown (Levin), N. Prebble (Oroua Downs), and J. Kilgour (Apiti). . The president, the secretary, the as-sistant-secretary and Messrs D. Mingins, L. Knight, G. H. Mitchell, K. Whisker, C. Swift and G. Fitzpatrick were elected an executive committee. The president and Messrs G. Mitchell and Whisker were appointed to represent the club on the general com'mittee of the Feilding A. and P. Association. It was decided to hold one show next year, not two as suggested at the annual meeting of the club, and the selecting of a suitable date was left to the executive committee. The president reported that, with the secretary, he had visited Taihape Inst Wednesdav evening and attended a large meeting of those interested in the club. The outcome had been the formation of a committee to work with the club. An address had been given to the meeting bv Mr F. L. C. Scrivener, formerly of the Massey College staff. Mr Lange extended his congratulations to the president on the success ot the Taihape meeting, and hoped equal success would be met with in other parts of the district. A committee comprising Messrs Lange, Wilson, Pryor and Fitzpatrick was set up to prepare the primary schools’ section of the club’s show schedule. RIFLE SHOOTING. The Cheltenham Rifle Club held the final shoot for club trophies on Sat urdny afternoon over the 500 and 60i yards ranges. The following wer

the scores: — :J. C. Williamson, 31 —32 —2—65; R. E. Stuart, 33—31—1—65; S. Meyliew, 33 —31—scr —64 ; Y. Barrow, 33 —31 —scr —64; H. McFarlane 31—30—3—64; R. Taylor, 32—31—1 64 ; P. Churches, 31 —32 —scr —63 ; S. C. Sandbrook, 31 —31—scr—62; P. 8urre11,2223 —27 —6—56; J. Osborne, 27—23—3—53. The club trophy was won by A 7. Barrow with 325, P. Churcher and H. iVlcFarlane tieing for second place with 324. In the slioot-off P. Churcher won. Next Saturday the club will be opened again, starting with the Dermer Cup. notes! The esteem in which the late Mr Herbert AV. Beatson, of Aorangi, whose accidental death caused such a shock in the district, was held, was shown at his funeral on Saturday afternoon, when a cortege of about 70 cars followed his remains to tlie Feilding cemetery. The services at the house and the graveside were conducted l>y Rev. Canon Petrie. Many floral tokens of sympathy were received, among them being those from the Feilding A. and P. Association, tlie Feilding High School, the Feilding AV.D.F.U., the Manawatu Hunt Club and the Colyton. AA’omen’s Institute. The pall-hearers were Messrs T. Taylor and S. G. Perry, of Kiwitea,- AV. AV. Andrews, of Feilding, D. Younger, “Cinder Hill,” B. Blundell, of New Plymouth, and L. H. Collinson, Palmerston North. The late Mr Beatson was one of the foundation members of the Manawatu Hunt and a keen sportsman. A rink from the Manawatu Club — Royal, Hunter, Kennedy, Corbridge (skip)—visited the Feilding Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon ad enjoyed an exciting friendly game with a home rink—AVilliamson, Allen, Neilson, Ramsay (skip). During the first half of the game the visitors scored freely, but after the tea adjournment tlie home team gradually made good the deficit. At the 2l'st head the score was 18 all so an extra head was played. A fine shot with his last howl gave Ramsay 3, but Corbridge played a fast one, scattered the three and won, one up.