ASSAULT CASE AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 6

ASSAULT CASE AT THAMES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Friday. At a sitting of the Thames Police Court to-day, before Messrs. Whitehouse and Ravenhill, J.P.'s, P. Farrelly and J. Meehan were charged by the police with assaulting G. Lovell' and J. Anderson. Sergeant Darby, on behalf of the police, stated that the charge against one of the defendants (Farrelly) was originally a more serious one. He was to have been charged with assaulting with intent to do J grievous bodily harm, but this had been amended to the lighter charge of common assault. The sergeant stated that., shortly after midnight on the 15th iust. Lovell and Anderson were returning home from work in the Waiotahi mine, and when near the Saxon corner were met by the two defendants, who appeared to be under the influence of drink. When' passing them on the footpath Lovell received a severe kick in the stomach from Farrelly, after which a scuffle \ ensued, w|th the result that Lovell was thrown down heavily into the drain, receiving such injury to his leg that he had been under medical treatment ever since, and unable to follow, his employment. At the same time Anderson was knocked against the fence by Meehan, and received injuries to his shoulder which incapacitated him from work for several days. The defendants had since visited Lovell at his house, and offered him a sum of money not to identify them, but this had been refused.

Mr. Clendon, who . appeared for the defendants, stated that his clients pleaded guilty to the assault, but he would point out that the particulars had been greatly exaggerated by the sergeant. He acknowledged that the scuffle . had taken place, but his clients were not the aggressors, and had no intention to injure either of the men. They were returning home from a party, and in passing the other two men accidentally collided with them, and the scuffle resulted. He referred to the previous good character of the defendants, who had never been before the Court on any charge whatever. '

Evidence was given by the four men of a very contradictory character.

Sergeant Darby pointed out that the defendants had pleaded guilty to the assault. The Bench held that the assault had been proved, and imposed a fine of £5 on each of the defendants and costs, and ordered Farrelly to pay the costs of the medical treatment. -'- ;