Stones, Clods and Fists

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 84, 8 April 1941, Page 9

Stones, Clods and Fists

NEIGHBOURING FARMERS IN COURT Two Te Matai Road farmers were the principal figures in a Magistrate Court action yesterday. The case was one in which the Police proceeded against John Percival Taucher charging him with having assaulted Arthur John Barnes on March 15. The alleged assault took the form of a hit under the eye that brought blood but Taucher's justification as outlined by his counsel, Mr. L. Laurenson, was that Barnes started the episode by throwing stones. The story told by Barnes was that he was riding his bicycle along Te Matai Road when he saw Taucher ploughing over the fence. He stopped and called out to Taucher asking him when lie was going to settle up an account for a horse. Taucher’s reply was that he owed witness nothing. “Taucher also threatened to knock my head off/’ added Barnes. “He picked up two clods of earth arid threw them at me. One struck my bicycle and I picked it up and threw it back. Taucher then came at me through the fence and hit me under the eye. I was covered with blood and after going home and washing it off I went to the Police. I didn’t hit back.” Mr. Laurenson: A very nice story. Have you even been mixed up in other l assaults'? ’ ’ Barnes: Not in Palmerston North. Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M.: What do you mean by 'not in Palmerston North?” Barnes: I have never been in any at all. Mr. Laurenson: Didn’t you assault someone at the Ashhurst saleyards? Witness: I haven’t been to Ashhurst for over a year. Counsel: Were you ever concerned in an assault at Norsewoorl? Witness: Years ago. Counsel: Didn’t you have a dust-up with Mr. McLeavey at Whakarongo? Witness: I went to his house and had a few words but that’s not a dust-up, is it? Witness admitted that the episode Btarted when he spoke to Taucher about £5 owing for a horse. The price of the animal was £ls but Taucher had only paid him £lO. He had not wanted to sell the .horse but Taucher was always borrowing. He denied having thrown gravel at Taucher. Counsel produced a receipt for £lO given by Barnes in respect of the horse deal. Herbert Andrew Horc, lorry driver, said he saw Barnes throwing stones at Taucher—at least half a dozen. One hit Taucher on the ear. It was then that Taucher got through the fence, Barnes shaping up. Taucher struck Barnes and knocked him down. It waß then that witness stepped in between them.

His Worship dismissed the information without calling on the defence.