ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9656, 31 October 1894, Page 3

ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

At the Magistrates' Court yesterday, before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, S.M., three young men named respectively George Murphy, Michael O'Brien, and Robert Martin, were charged with having on the 9th October, 1894, violently assaulted one John Watson, and robbed him of the sum of 2s, Sergeant Gamble conducted the prosecution. Mr. Jackson Palmer appeared for Martin and Mr. F. Banme for O'Brien.

The complainant, an elderly man, who described himself as a gum-sorter, stated that on the morning of the 9th he was aecosted by the accused in the urinal of the Clarendon Hotel. Ho was about to leave the place, when he was rushed back by the men, and one of them put his hands into his pocket. Witness said, " You are robbing me ; you are a cowardly lot to rob an old man like me. I will follow you, and will not lose sight of you until I got the police or some other body to assist me." The accused robbed him of 2s and some coppers. When witness got on the footpath lie said to the men, "If you will give me back my money there will nothing more come out of it." Murphy pretended to give him some money back, but instead of doing so he struck him in the eye. Witness followed them to Lorne-street, where they made fun of him, and ultimately knocked him down, and left him. H« remembered no more until ho was picked up by Constable Howell. Witness afterwards looked up the road, and saw tha accused looking out from a willow tree. By Mr. Baume : He was not drunk. Ha had nothing to drink that morning. The witnoss was cross-examined at considerable length both by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Baume.

Drs. Mackellar and Makgill gave tnedi!cal testimony, the former as to having treated the complainant at the hitter's house, and Dr. Makgill ab the Hospital. Charles Barker, a boot-finisher employed at Walton's Lion boot factory, at the corner of Rutland-street, saw Murphy and Martin in conversation with an old gentleman on the day in question between nine and ten o'clock in the morning. Witness could not swear to the man. He thought he was in the company of the accused, as he was walking away with them. A woman named Fanny Elizabeth Berry said she saw Watson in Rubland-streeb, and hoard him call out to the three accused. Tho latter stood at the corner, and when the complainant came up one of them knocked against the other, and the old man foil on the road. Witness sent her husband down to assist V\ atson.

John Thomas Berry, husband of the last witness, doposod to seeing the complainant and the three accused in Rutland street. Witness went down to soo what was the matter with Watson, who was calling after the accused. Witness found Watson in a had state. He was covered in blood down his face. Witness saw Constable Howell at) the corner and called him.

Elizabeth Franklin, residing in Lomestreet, also gave evidence. Further hearing of the case was adjourned until half-past ten next morning.